# woolly mule's ears (*Wyethia mollis*)

Woolly mule's ears are soft, fuzzy plants with big, round leaves. They grow in sunny places and can be found in meadows and along trails. These plants are fun to touch and look at!

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

![woolly mule's ears](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Wyethiamollis.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Matt Brown, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wyethiamollis.jpg)

## Appearance

The woolly mule's ears has large, fuzzy silver-green leaves shaped like a mule's ear, giving it its name. Its bright yellow, daisy-like flowers grow singly or in small clusters atop sturdy stalks, making it stand out in mountain meadows.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- It grows high in the mountains, sometimes above the tree line!
- Its scientific name, Wyethia, honors a famous American explorer!
- The seeds are a tasty treat for many small birds and rodents!
- These plants often grow in "colonies," covering large patches of ground!

## Special abilities

- **Fuzzy Sweater:** Woolly mule's ears has dense, soft hairs on its leaves that help it survive cold mountain air and reflect harsh sunlight.
- **Deep Drinker:** Woolly mule's ears can grow a long taproot that helps it find deep water and nutrients in dry, rocky mountain soil.
- **Sun Tracker:** Woolly mule's ears flowers often track the sun's movement, helping them warm up and attract more busy pollinators.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-80 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 4-8 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers
- **Pollinates:** yellow-faced bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — helps transfer pollen between its sunny blooms
- **Eaten by:** [mule deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on its leaves and tender shoots
- **Eaten by:** [yellow-bellied marmot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-bellied-marmot) (*Marmota flaviventris*) — grazes its fuzzy leaves in high mountain meadows

## Traits

- [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [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.
- [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 pick the plants, so they can keep growing!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify woolly mule's ears?

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 woolly mule's ears?

30-80 cm

### How wide does woolly mule's ears spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on woolly mule's ears?

4-8 cm

### When does woolly mule's ears bloom?

Summer

### Is woolly mule's ears edible?

No

### Is woolly mule's ears toxic?

Mild

### What is woolly mule's ears's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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: [Woolly Mule's Ears: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/woolly-mules-ears)