Lachnocaulon anceps Habit
Common Name: whitehead bogbutton
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Eriocaulaceae
Native Range: Cuba, southeastern United States
Zone: 7 to 10
Height: 0.25 to 1.25 feet
Spread: 0.25 to 0.50 feet
Bloom Time: April to July
Bloom Description: White
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Medium
Flower: Showy
Tolerate: Wet Soil
Culture
Best grown in evenly moist to wet soils in full sun. Amend soils with plenty of peat and sand to create a moisture retentive but well-draining growing medium. Does not compete well against other plants. Hardy in Zones 7-10.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Lachnocaulon anceps, commonly called whitehead bogbutton, is a herbaceous, clump-forming perennial native to peat bogs, sandy seeps, pine savannas, and other moist, open areas of the southern United States coastal plains. The tufted clumps of basal foliage can reach up to 3" tall with a similar to slightly wider spread and are made up of narrow, lanceolate leaves. Rounded flower heads reaching up to 0.25" wide and made up of tiny, white flowers are held above the foliage on wiry, leafless, upright flowering stalks. The flowering stalks emerge from mid-spring to mid-summer, and can reach between 4-15" tall.
The specific epithet anceps means "two-sided", in reference to the flowering stalks which can have two sides but are more often ribbed with 4-5 sides.
The common name whitehead bogbutton refers to the shape and color of the inflorescence as well as the preferred habitat of this species.
Problems
No major problems have been reported.
Uses
Bog gardens, container plantings.