Description
- About this cultivar: Erigeron karvinskianus is cultivated for its daisy-like blooms, and is often confused with the closely related true daisy Bellis. The wonderful plant is best grown in crevices in walls or paving, where it rapidly spreads to provide a carpet of flowers for months and months. Seriously you may get nine months of flowers from this plant. Thus, it has gained the RHS AGM. Colonised the concrete terraces of the football stadium (Estadio_Azteca) built for the Mexico 1970 World Cup!
- About this genus: Erigeron is quite a large genus, with 390 species of annuals, biennials and perennials, not including all of the cultivars on the market too. The most widely used common name, fleabane, is shared with related plants in several other genera. It is derived from the belief that the dried plants repelled fleas, whilst the name Erigeron is derived from the Greek (eri = early; geron = old man), a reference to the appearance of the white hairs of the fruit soon after flowering.
- As a member of the daisy family, the flowers unsurprisingly daisy like. Cultivar flowers can be white, blue or pink in color and are produced in profusion for 1-2 months in the summer or autumn, depending on the species. Erigeron need to be in well drained sunny areas - they type of soil doesn't matter as long as it is reasonably well drained. They are quite drought tolerant - a good plant for the seaside garden.
- You can mass them together towards the front of the border, put them into a rock garden, or grow them in a container. Butterflies love them. Try them with Fuchsia, Lupin, Lavendula, Leucanthemum, Helianthemum and other daisies. Shrubs like Philadelphus and Kolkwitzia also pair well.
- Position: Full sun, partial shade Soil: Almost any soil, but not in wet areas!, Rocks Flowers: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November Other features: Bees and Butterflies, Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (RHS AGM) Hardiness: H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10°C) Habit: Mat forming Foliage: Deciduous Height: 15 - 25 cm (0.5 - 1 ft) Spread: 30 - 60 cm (1 - 2 ft) Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years
Erigeron karvinskianus - a Garden Tested, Hardy Perennial Plant - Mexican Fleabane
