Wasatch Wildflowers: Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)

Photo: Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) – photo: Ashley Brown

WASATCH MOUNTAINS, Utah — Pearly Everlasting is a perennial herb native to Utah. The flower’s namesake is the luminescent flower heads, shaped and glowing like clusters of pearls. The pearly white part of the flower is the bracts, which stay bright white after the flower dries up. The white bracts grow around golden flower heads. The flowers are up to ¼ inch wide. The dark green, narrow lance-shaped leaves are up to 5 inches long and grow on a hairy stem. The musky odor plant can be over a foot tall.

Pearly everlasting grows along stream banks and meadows in aspen and spruce-fir communities. Look for the gorgeous blooms from late June through August between 3,700 and 11,000 feet.