Elephantopus tomentosus aka Tobacco Weed

Elephantopus tomentosus is a wildflower that lives for years. It belongs to the daisy family, Asteraceae. Names include elephant's foot, devil's grandmother, and tobacco weed. It comes from the central and southeastern United States. Its range reaches west to Texas and Oklahoma. It grows in woods that are somewhat dry, and at their edges. It also grows by roads and on cleared or burned ground.

The plant grows fast to about 2 feet [0.61 metres]. A short rhizome, an underground stem, supports its growth. It bears a low rosette and upright flower stems. The rosette's green leaves overlap close to the soil. They vary in size, with clear veins and hairs. Some exceed 0.5 feet [0.15 metres] in length. Their width ranges from 0.25–0.5 feet [0.08–0.15 metres]. Shapes include elliptical, obovate, and oblanceolate forms. These are oval, egg-shaped, or narrow, with wider tips. Leaf edges have rounded or pointed teeth. A few small leaves may grow alternately along the stem. Hairy stems range from brown to copper and branch into flower stalks.

Flowers bloom from August through November, in late summer and fall. Small heads form panicles, branched clusters, or flatter corymbs. Each disk flower forms a funnel with five lobes. Most flowers are pink or purple; a few are white. Three large bracts, leaf-like parts, sit beneath the flower heads. Butterflies and other pollinators visit the blooms. The fruit is a ribbed achene, a dry, single-seed fruit. Each has four or five long pappus awns. These bristles help the fruit spread.

Grow this plant in average soil that drains well. It accepts full sun or part shade. Its listed soil needs allow ground that dries at times. Its flowers add value to woodland and pollinator gardens. It also suits naturalized areas, where spread may cause less trouble. Wildlife eats the leaves. North Carolina State Extension notes medicinal use in Asia. People there use it for pain and inflammation. This use does not prove safety or benefit. The supplied sources give no guidance on food use or toxicity.

Its spread is the main garden concern in the evidence. It seeds itself freely, even beyond its intended spot. The low leaves can crowd out nearby plants. They sit too low for mowing or string trimming to work well. North Carolina State Extension favors hand weeding for control. It rates care needs as high and advises against general landscape use. These traits limit its value near small or less vigorous plants.