Dog'S-Tongue

Pseudelephantopus spicatus

Native to:
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuelan Antilles, Windward Is.
Dog'S-Tongue

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Pseudelephantopus
Species:
Pseudelephantopus spicatus
USDA Symbol:
PSSP4

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
100 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
jun,jul,aug,sep,oct,nov
Bloom Colors:
white, pink, lavender

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Pyrausta phoenicealis

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
butterflies
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Tolerates fire disturbance and may resprout from rootstock; often found in fire-maintained pinelands and disturbed areas.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
commonly found in open, disturbed areas

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI