Sweet everlasting, or Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium, is a wildflower with a fragrant aroma that has led many to question its edibility. However, while it has a rich history in folk and traditional medicine, it is not a food plant. Its culinary prospects are limited by its bitter taste, and its use is overshadowed by serious safety concerns related to toxic lookalikes and contaminants. Any consideration of internal use requires extreme caution and expert guidance due to potential risks from related plant species.
A Tradition of Medicine, Not Cuisine
For centuries, Native American tribes and early settlers have valued sweet everlasting for its medicinal properties, not for its flavor. Known also by the common name “rabbit tobacco,” it was used in various preparations to treat a wide array of ailments. While often made into a tea, sources note its unpalatably bitter and astringent taste, which is why it was not adopted as a food source. Its use was therapeutic, not culinary. Other applications included smoking the dried leaves for asthma, using poultices for sores, and as a spiritual smudge. The fragrant, dried foliage was also placed in pillows for relaxation or used as a moth repellent.
Significant Safety Concerns and Toxic Lookalikes
The most significant danger associated with sweet everlasting isn't the plant itself, but the risk of confusing it with toxic relatives. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, which includes other species that contain highly toxic compounds known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). Some of these PA-containing plants, like certain species in the Senecio genus and even other Gnaphalium species, can cause severe liver damage if ingested.
Furthermore, even assuming correct identification, herbal safety experts warn against prolonged internal use of many Asteraceae family herbs due to potential liver toxicity. A specific caution is also given to individuals with allergies to ragweed or other daisy-family members, who should avoid the plant. The risks are so significant that consulting a qualified herbal practitioner or medical professional is a critical step before attempting any internal use of sweet everlasting.
How to Identify True Sweet Everlasting
Correct identification is non-negotiable. Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium has several distinguishing features:
- Silvery, Woolly Foliage: The leaves and stems are covered in dense, white, felt-like hairs.
- Narrow, Lance-shaped Leaves: Leaves are stalkless and arranged alternately up the stem.
- Maple-Syrup Scent: When crushed, the foliage exudes a distinctive and pleasant maple-syrup aroma.
- Peg-shaped Flowerheads: The small, clustered flowerheads are whitish and resemble pegs or buds, distinctly different from the button-like heads of some relatives.
A Note on Contamination
The issue of contamination is a real concern in commercial herbal products. During harvesting or processing, toxic PA-containing weeds can unintentionally mix with the desired plant material. This makes it difficult to guarantee safety even in professionally packaged products. This emphasizes the need for regulations in the herbal supplement industry and further reinforces why relying on expert identification is paramount when dealing with any wild-harvested material.
Traditional Uses of Sweet Everlasting
- Herbal Tea: Historically used for colds, pneumonia, coughs, and sore throats.
- Inhalant: The aromatic steam from boiling leaves was used for headaches and respiratory congestion.
- Poultice: Applied topically to treat bruises, sores, and inflammation.
- Smudge: Burned ceremonially by some Native American tribes.
- Relaxant: Used to promote relaxation, sometimes by stuffing dried plants into pillows.
Sweet Everlasting vs. Lookalikes: A Comparison Table
| Trait | Sweet Everlasting (P. obtusifolium) | Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) | Toxic Relatives (e.g., Senecio spp.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Narrow, lance-shaped; woolly below, greener above | Broader, more silvery on both sides | Varies widely; often lobed or toothed |
| Flowers | Small, peg-shaped, clustered, whitish; papery bracts | Larger, pearly-white, globular flowerheads in flatter clusters | Typically yellow, daisy-like flowers |
| Scent | Distinctive maple-syrup aroma when crushed | Less fragrant or no distinctive smell | Can be pungent or unpleasant |
| Toxicity | Potential for contamination and PA risk from related species | Non-toxic (but not a culinary edible) | High risk of liver toxicity from pyrrolizidine alkaloids |
| Growth Habit | Annual or biennial; typically taller than cudweeds | Perennial; rhizomatous growth | Varies widely by species |
Conclusion
To answer the question, "Is sweet everlasting edible?"—no, not in the traditional culinary sense. While it has been used medicinally as a tea and for other applications for centuries, its bitter flavor makes it unappealing for food. More importantly, the significant risks of misidentification with potentially toxic related species containing liver-damaging pyrrolizidine alkaloids, coupled with general herbal cautions, make any internal use extremely risky for those without expert knowledge. For most people, it is best appreciated for its fragrant, decorative qualities and left undisturbed for the pollinators it supports.
Sweet Everlasting (Old Field Balsam) - Missouri Department of Conservation
