Yard work, plant identification: woolly eriophyllum

Self-tutoring about yard work: the tutor mentions a plant he’s long wondered about.

The following is according to my understanding.

We’ve been on this property for decades. Most of the permanent plants on it were here when we arrived. Eventually, I’ve identified most of them – for instance, the red-osier dogwood (see yesterday’s post).

There is some lamb’s ear on the property (see my post from June 24, 2025 about that). There is also another plant whose leaves are a bit furry; some people lump it in with the lamb’s ear. In fact, lamb’s ear grows among the other plant, which is a spreading, bushy perennial. Next to the lamb’s ear, however, one can realize the other plant is very different except for its furry leaves.

I’ve long wondered what the other plant is. It’s got bright yellow flowers with many petals – I think I’ve counted 11 or 12 petals on some of its flowers. It produces a lot of flowers in bunches that seem separate from the leaf-bearing stems – maybe not totally, but generally. Its general height is about half a metre. Its leaves are simple ovals, green on top, white underneath.

It is true that both the lamb’s ear and this other plant have a whiteness about them. However, the lamb’s ear’s leaves are whitish everywhere, while this other plant’s leaves are white on the bottom, but decisively green on top.

I have identified the other plant as woolly eriophyllum, apparently native to this region.

Source:

Pojar, J., MacKinnon, A. (editors), 1994. Plants of Coastal British Columbia including Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. B.C. Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing.