Mountain everlasting

Mountain everlasting is a perennial plant of the aster family that has a small rosette of leaves at ground level and flower heads at the top of its greyish-green stem. The flower heads resemble cat paws and they open in June-July. Mountain everlasting grows creeping rhizomes and it often forms carpet-like stands.

The mountain everlasting thrives in dry ground and open habitats, such as those found in xeric heath forests, dry meadows, rock outcrops along with mountain heaths in the fell areas. Its area of distribution covers all of Europe except for Portugal and Spain.

Mountain everlasting is used as a garden plant. It is said to alleviate cough and ease mucus discharge when used as a herbal medicine.

The suitable habitats for the mountain everlasting have been reduced because of the decline of traditional agriculture. The species benefits from management of sunny and dry environments through thinnings and breaking of the soil surface.