npsot_bluebonnet_full_color

Elephant's Foot

Elephantopus tomentosus

Other common name(s):

Common Elephant's-foot, Devil's Grandmother

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

.25
to
2
ft.

Spread

.25
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium, High

Native Habitat

Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Pink, Purple

Bloom Season

Fall

Seasonal Interest

Forage, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Browsers, Butterflies, Bees

Maintenance

Prefers open or shaded, dry pine forests and mixed forests. Needs good drainage. Give lots of room due to its ability to self-seed and spread easily. Leaves that form just above ground level tend to smother out other plant growth. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms August-November. Leaves at the base of the plant are of various sizes, overlap each other around the stem, and lay flat close to the ground. The flowering stalk has no leaves, with the exception of the bracts under the flowers. Small, light purple or pink flowers, with 5-lobed disk flowers arranged in a circle. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym(s): Elephantopus carolinianus var. simplex, Elephantopus nudicaulis

References

1) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=37300#null, 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ELTO2, 3) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=2795&locationType=County&mapType=Normal, 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Elephantopus+tomentosus&formsubmit=Search+Terms, 5) https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/elephantopus-tomentosus/
Receive the latest native plant news

Subscribe To Our News

Subscribe to emails from the Native Plant Society of Texas.

Receive emails when new posts are added 4-6 times per month, or receive an email once a month.

Or join us on social media

About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. 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 four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason