Chaenactis douglasii, commonly known as Douglas’ dustymaiden, is a perennial herb that thrives in a variety of habitats such as dry meadows, open woodlands, and rocky slopes in western North America, from British Columbia to New Mexico, and east to Nebraska and the Dakotas. It is particularly adapted to high elevation environments, often found from sea level to 13,123 feet. This plant typically grows erect to a height of 4-24 inches tall, with cobwebby stems and woolly or hairy basal leaves that form a low rosette. The inflorescence is a cluster of white or pinkish tubular disc flowers that bloom from late spring to early fall, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Douglas’ dustymaiden is valued for its drought tolerance and ability to thrive in poor, well-drained soils, making it a suitable choice for rock gardens, xeriscaping, and restoration projects. It requires minimal maintenance once established and can be used to add texture and interest to native plant gardens. While it is not commonly used in traditional horticulture, some Plateau Indian tribes historically used the plant medicinally as a dressing for burns, wounds, and sores. Douglas’ dustymaiden prefers full sun to light shade and is relatively free of serious pests and diseases, although it can be susceptible to root rot if overwatered.CC BY-SA 4.0