Galactites tomentosa

Annual or biennial of the Asteraceae family, Galactites tomentosa is native to the western Mediterranean basin, abundant in Corsica, Sardinia, the Iberian Peninsula, and the Maghreb. It colonizes wastelands, roadsides, open garrigues, rocky slopes, and disturbed grounds, from sea level to about 800 meters, always in full sun and on well-drained soil.

It raises branched and cottony stems from 40 to 80 cm, bearing spiny leaves, dark green on top and white-tomentose underneath, traversed by very marked white veins which constitute one of its most recognizable traits, even outside flowering. The capitula, pink to pink-lilac, are surrounded by spiny bracts and bloom in numbers on slender, upright stems.

In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from April to July. The photos illustrate magnificent Corsican stations in full bloom in May, with the sea in the background.

A plant of spontaneous seeding, it reseeds freely in dry and sunny Mediterranean gardens, without any particular care. It is not hardy in cold and humid climates. Its white-marbled foliage makes it decorative well before the appearance of the flowers, which actively attract butterflies and bees.