Barbara’s Buttons (Marshallia Caespitosa)

Barbara's Buttons

Features and Characteristics

Marshallia caespitosa, commonly called Barbara’s buttons, is a clump-forming perennial native to portions of the south-central United States. It can be found on calcareous glades and outcrops and in habitats with sandy soils. The dense flower heads of this aster (composite) family member are discoid (only disk flowers with no ray flowers). The numerous, tiny, white to pink-tinged disk florets are compacted into solitary, terminal, pincushion-like, dome-shaped flower heads (to 1″ diameter) atop long, rigid, slender stems (peduncles) rising to 16″ tall. Flowers somewhat resemble some of the cornflowers (Centaurea). Flowers bloom in spring. Narrow linear-lanceolate leaves (to 4″ long) mostly appear in basal rosettes, with sparse stem leaves being much smaller.

Genus name honors Humphry Marshall (1722-180- and his nephew Moses Marshall (1758-181- , American botanists.

Specific epithet means growing in dense clumps.

Barbara's buttons (Marshallia caespitosa)

Care and Maintenance

Easily grown in evenly moist to dry, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerates some drought once established. Tolerant of most soil types as long as they are well draining. Will self sow in ideal conditions.

Barbara’s Buttons (Marshallia Caespitosa) Requirements

Hardiness zone 5 - 8
Sun light Full Sun To Part Shade
Water Dry To Medium
Maintenance Low

Common Problems

No serious insect or disease problems.

Uses

Naturalize in limestone rock gardens, crevice gardens, border fronts and wildflower/native plant gardens.

 

Barbara’s Buttons (Marshallia Caespitosa) Details

Common name Barbara's Buttons
Botanical name Marshallia Caespitosa
Plant type Herbaceous Perennial
Family Asteraceae
Hardiness zone 5 - 8
Water Dry To Medium
Maintenance Low
Flower color White To Pink-Tinged
Flowering period April - June
Height 1 - 1.50 Feet
Width 0.50 To 1 Ft.