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Native Plant Society of Texas

Barbara's Buttons

Marshallia caespitosa

Other common name(s):

Barbara's-buttons, Puffballs, White Barbara's-buttons

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster 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.

Central Great Plains, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Limestone Plains
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

0.75
to
1.5
ft.

Spread

5
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Limestone, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Pink

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Forage, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Beetles, Butterflies, Small Mammals, Bees

Maintenance

Low maintenance required. Drought tolerant. Good border edge or filler, perennial garden, rocky hillside, and rock gardens. Propagation: division, transplant. Propagation: seed, cutting.

Comments

Blooms April-June. A short lived perennial. Narrow leaves grow from a rosette. Delicate balls of white, fragrant flowers form on slender, leafless stalks. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 197. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MACA7. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Marshallia+caespitosa&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=3782&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=38064#null, 7) http://www.texaswildbuds.com/marshallia-caespitosa.html, 8) https://mowildflowers.net/marshallia-caespitosa-barbaras-buttons/, 9) https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=277450&isprofile=0&n=1, 10) https://garden.org/plants/view/77778/Barbaras-Buttons-Marshallia-caespitosa/, 11) https://www.plantdelights.com/products/marshallia-caespitosa

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Fall Sowing (Outdoors): For a natural approach, sow seeds directly outdoors in fall. This mimics the plant’s natural life cycle, allowing seeds to experience winter’s chill for optimal germination come spring. Late Winter/Early Spring (Indoors): If starting seeds indoors, aim for late winter or early spring, about 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost. Choose a location with well-draining soil and full sun to light shade. Loosen the soil and remove any weeds. Scatter seeds evenly over the prepared area and lightly press them into the soil, ensuring good seed-to-soil contact. Do not bury the seeds deeply, as they require light for germination. Water gently but thoroughly, keeping the seedbed consistently moist but not waterlogged. 1) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-marshallia-caespitosa/ 2) https://greg.app/barbaras-buttons-overview/#:~:text=%F0%9F%8C%B1%20Seed%20Propagation,within%207%20to%2014%20days.
Clump division Division Divide established Barbara’s Buttons plants in early spring or fall when the soil is moist but not waterlogged. Carefully dig up the entire clump, ensuring you get as much of the root system as possible. Gently tease apart the plant into smaller sections, each with a healthy set of roots and shoots. Replant the divisions at the same depth they were originally growing, water them well, and keep the soil consistently moist until they are established. 1) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-marshallia-caespitosa/ 2) https://greg.app/barbaras-buttons-overview/#:~:text=%F0%9F%8C%B1%20Seed%20Propagation,within%207%20to%2014%20days.

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