# leafy elephant's-foot (*Elephantopus carolinianus*)

The leafy elephant's-foot is a fun plant with big, fuzzy leaves that look like elephant feet! It grows in sunny places and can be found in fields and along roadsides.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![leafy elephant's-foot](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Elephantopus_carolinianus_kz2.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elephantopus_carolinianus_kz2.jpg)

## Appearance

The leafy elephant's-foot has broad, hairy, oval leaves clustered near the base and along its upright stems. Its small, purple-pink, thistle-like flowers are grouped in tight, branched clusters at the top, creating a fuzzy, star-shaped appearance.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Elephantopus

## Interesting facts

- Its name comes from its large, rough leaves, which look like an elephant's foot!
- Some related 'elephant's-foot' plants were traditionally used in herbal medicines!
- This plant is a favorite snack for deer, who munch its leaves, but it usually grows back!
- Tiny purple flowers work together to create a showy, eye-catching bloom cluster!

## Special abilities

- **Fuzzy Shield:** The leafy elephant's-foot has hairy leaves that help it reduce water loss and deter some hungry insects.
- **Teamwork Blooms:** Its tiny flowers grow in tight clusters surrounded by protective bracts, making a bigger target for pollinators.
- **Deep Anchors:** The leafy elephant's-foot has a strong root system that helps it survive dry periods and stay firmly in place.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-100 cm
- **Spread:** 20-40 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer-fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Feeds on nectar, aiding in plant reproduction.
- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Commonly browses on its leaves and stems.

## Traits

- [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify leafy elephant's-foot?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is leafy elephant's-foot?

30-100 cm

### How wide does leafy elephant's-foot spread?

20-40 cm

### How big are the flowers on leafy elephant's-foot?

0.5-1 cm

### When does leafy elephant's-foot bloom?

Summer-fall

### Is leafy elephant's-foot edible?

No

### Is leafy elephant's-foot toxic?

None

### What is leafy elephant's-foot's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Fort Foote Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-foote-park) — Maryland, US · National Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Leafy Elephant's-foot: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leafy-elephants-foot)