Filago pygmaea
Care, watering, light and tips for Filago pygmaea on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Asteraceae
- Difficulty: Moderate care
- Watering: every 3 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 0–35 °C
About Filago pygmaea
Filago pygmaea, also known as Pygmy Cudweed or Dwarf Cottonweed, is a small annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. It is characterized by its woolly or cottony appearance and its tiny yellowish flowers clustered together. It is ideal for rockeries, gravel gardens, or as part of a Mediterranean wild garden, providing interesting texture and low maintenance.
Native range
Mediterranean region (Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Near East)
Care tips
It requires full sun and prefers well-drained soils, even poor or sandy ones, typical of its Mediterranean habitat. Watering should be minimal once established, as it is very drought-tolerant and overwatering can be detrimental. Avoid heavy, clayey soils, as they retain too much moisture and can lead to root rot. It does not tolerate dense shade or constant humidity.
How to save a dying Filago pygmaea
- Warning signs
- Leaves lose their characteristic woolly appearance, turn yellowish or brown, and the plant looks wilted.
- First aid
- Move it to a spot with full sun and excellent drainage. Drastically reduce watering. If in a pot, consider a very sandy substrate.
- What kills it
- Overwatering and shade. It's a Mediterranean plant adapted to drought and intense sun.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if you act quickly. It's quite drought-tolerant but cannot stand waterlogging or lack of light.