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Native Plant Society of Texas

Woolly Stemodia

Stemodia lanata

Other common name(s):

Gray-woolly Twintip

Family:

Plantaginaceae (Plantain Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes
Coastal Sand Plain, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Groundcover, Herbaceous

Height

0.5
to
0.75
ft.

Spread

2
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Semi Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Calcareous, Well Drained, Dry, Saline

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Purple

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Nectar Insects

Maintenance

Drought and saline tolerant. Low maintenance. Needs good drainage, do not overwater to avoid rot. Forms a dense groundcover that spreads rapidly by stolons. In sandy soil can blanket an area which helps to cool down hot landscapes. Attractive trailing over the edge of a patio container or hanging basket. It dies back where winters are cold, but in warmer areas it is evergreen. Prune dead foliage or to create a more compact form. Native habitat: sandy soils of coastal and southern Texas, although it will adapt to other well drained substrates and is popular in nurseries throughout Texas. Propagation: seed, stem cutting.

Comments

Blooms April-November. Low growing with sprawling stems. Small, oval leaves are light gray and fuzzy. Blooms with tiny lavender or white flowers. The fruit is a capsule.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Stemodia tomentosa

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Stem Cutting Place the new plant in a separate location immediately. Water gently. Woolly stemodia colonizes via stolons. That means it sends out stems with nodes that root where they touch the soil. So, the easiest way to propagate it is to snip off a rooted stem and transplant it. To begin, lift the edge of a healthy plant and look for a spot where young roots have anchored themselves in the soil. Dig up the new section and use sharp, sterile shears to cut the offshoot from the parent plant. 1) https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/woolly-stemodia/#:~:text=Woolly%20stemodia%20colonizes%20via%20stolons,Water%20gently. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=STLA17

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason