Erigeron

Fleabane
Asteraceae (Compositae)
Perennials, Flowers

Free-blooming plants with daisylike flowers. Similar to closely related Michaelmas daisy (Aster novi-belgii), except that erigeron’s flower heads have threadlike rays in two or more rows rather than broader rays in a single row. White, pink, lavender, or violet flowers, usually with yellow centers. Cut back after flowering to prolong bloom. Grow best in sandy soil. Rock garden species need especially fast drainage.

Erigeron glaucus

Native to California, Oregon coast. Burns in hot sun inland. Forms a clump to 1 ft. high and 1 1/2 ft. wide, with blue-green foliage and stems. Stout, hairy stems are topped by lavender, 1 1/2 –2-in.-wide flower heads in spring, summer.

'Sea Breeze' has large pink flowers. 'Arthur Menzies' is a compact selection to 8 in. high with lavender-pink blooms. 'Wayne Roderick' also grows to 8 in. high, bears large lavender blooms in summer; possibly a hybrid, it is similar to E. glaucus but has larger leaves and does better in warmer areas.

Erigeron karvinskianus

Native to Mexico. Graceful, trailing plant 10–20 in. high, 3 ft. wide. Leaves 1 in. long, often toothed at tips. Dainty flower heads 3/4 in. across with numerous white or pinkish rays. Rarely out of bloom. Use as ground cover in garden beds or large containers, in rock gardens, in hanging baskets, on dry walls. Drought tolerant.

Erigeron speciosus

Native to Pacific Northwest. Erect, leafy stemmed, 2 ft. high and wide. Summer flowers are 1–1 1/2 in. across, with dark violet or lavender rays. Widespread through Rocky Mountain area is E. s. macranthus, aspen daisy, which bears three to five flowers on each stalk; stalks nod near top. Hybrids between E. speciosus and other species are available;they have larger flowers andcome in white and pink as wellas blue shades. Some of thebest are azure blue ‘BlueBeauty’, violet-blue ‘Darkest ofAll’, light violet ‘Strahlenmeer’,‘Pink Jewel’ (with blooms in various pink shades), carmine-pink ‘Förster’s Liebling’ (‘Förster’s Darling’), and white ‘Schneewittchen’(‘Snow White’).