I can't remember who gave this plant to me. There is a hand written tag 'Pandora's Box'. I have looked that name up and find nothing to match.

Looks really familiar is it a Antennaria dioica, commonly called pussytoes?

My first thought was Lamb's Ears (Stachys) but the leaves don't match. It does resemble Antennaria, one for comparison:

It kind of looks like the rose campion that I have growing here. I've always thought it was lamb's ear because the leaves are so soft and they both have a sage green coloring to them.

Edited: after looking at some of the pictures of pussytoes, I'm going to have to agree with the others. I had never heard of it before, but am going to have to check to see how to get some if it will grow here! I think it is so pretty!

Hmmm, it did make me think of Lamb's ears, the leaves are thick and very soft and velvety. I might have to wait to see blooms on it before making a decision.
As soon as it blooms, which might be awhile, I will post the photos here.
Thank you to all for giving me ideas.

I've got lambs ears growing and it looks just like that.

Thank you Dorothy, not sure when this will blooms? Sometime this summer?

Okay, basal leaves have really changes from big rounded leaves, to narrow/longer leaves. And these blooms are starting up. Dark purple buds so far. I can see now that it is an Antennaria. Now to figure out which one.

Hmmm.. I can see now that it is not Antennaria. Mine in zone 4b have already produced seed. Blooms should never hang down, and the rear "scales" (the involucre - the red part if you had a red pussytoes) of the composite flower should number at least 20 if not 40-50. Your plant has zero. Like this:




Antennaria is a composite flower with many many individual flowers inside each pussytoe. I would lean towar Silene, but silenes have opposite foliage. Not sure what it is.

Time will tell....

This reminds me of Gomphrena but I do not know if it has any dwarf perennial species. Are the "petals" at all papery? Maybe in one of the similar genera with "everlasting" type flowers.

Pat

Maybe a type of Arabis?

The plant had dried out so bad that all the stalks were drooping. I watered it before taking the photo when it had started standing straight again. The blooms are not yet opened. I will take more photos as it progresses.

Okay, I am so embarrassed. Today I looked to see if the blooms opened yet. I had to move a couple of stalks out of the way. In the process I noticed for the first time that the buds are on a separate leafless stalk. Tracing it to the ground I found a miniature hosta.
I do believe it is a pussytoe, as buds are forming on the upright stems.

Lynn, that certainly would be an interesting flower for a pussytoes😄

Glad you sorted it out.

Ann

I feel so silly. I think the heat is getting to me.