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I've always admired the erigeron my mother grows in her garden. After I noticed how many pollinators it attracts I decided it was time to add it to my garden.
I planted it last spring (2021) in a pot and it did beautifully. At the end of the summer I let nature do it's thing and left the seeds on the plant to naturally get blown around the garden by the wind. I haven't been disappointed this year, they have popped up everywhere including in the patio making it look far prettier.
Even better it hasn't needed watering once during the heatwave (2022)
Erigeron, is also known as fleabane, the one I have is called Erigeron Karvinskianus (Mexican Fleabane) (syn. Profusion). It has lovely white flowers that turn pink as they age.
Erigerons are low-growing, clump-forming plants, producing daisy-like flowers from May until the first frosts in autumn. It comes from Mexico and Central America, and does really well in dry, sunny spots in UK gardens.
My garden has areas that become extremely dry and hot, where the soil looks more like sand, the Erigeron has survived really well in these areas.
You won't have to do much to Erigerons as they are very low maintenance. They cover areas of bare soil and can soften the edges of pathways and patios. They can also be planted in between cracks in pavements or walls, just pop a seed into a bit of clay and push it into the gap.
Erigerons are loved by bees, butterflies and other pollinators, they also self sow from the seeds they produce so you'll have new plants popping up in your garden. It's a wonderful thing when the flowers in your garden take care of themselves and spread, affectively giving you lots of free plants. And keeping you out of the way so wildlife can move in and be left undisturbed. It is not an aggressive plant so there is no need to worry about it taking over your flower beds. I always find if a plant grows on it's own then it should mean it's in the right place, and it's more important now with climate change to have the right plant in the right location so you don't have to change the soil to accommodate the plant. Plus it's a cheaper way of gardening if you don't have to buy lots of compost to change your soil type.
They are best placed in well drained soil, in sun or partial shade. They won't appreciate poor draining and wet soils. There is no need to dead head them, leaving the dead flowers on will create lots of seeds for either the birds to eat, or for you to collect and sow in the following spring. The wind will carry the seeds off around the garden allowing them to self sow. If they get straggly and you want a second flower display, give them a trim which can encourage new growth. For those of you who like a plant to stay looking neat, cut back straggly stems at the end of the season.
Erigeron looks great at the edge of borders, along pathways, in gravel gardens or coastal gardens. It can also be grown in pots. It works really well growing out of cracks in pavements, down the sides of steps or tucked into wall crevices.
The plant spreads slowly via its rhizomatous roots. As it is a slow spreader it will be easy to keep on top of it if you don't want it spreading too far from it's original location.
It prefers sandy, chalk or loam soils that have good drainage. If your soil is too heavy you will need to improve drainage by adding horticultural grit to the planting hole.
There really isn't anything you need to do for this plant. It takes care of itself. It copes well with drought, needing only a little bit of water, you don't need to deadhead or cut it back if you don't want to.
Erigeron self seed so you probably won't need to propagate them. However, if you are like me and your garden is fairly young and you want to get as much out of one plant as you can, collect the seeds and immediately sow them in seed trays, or keep the seeds and sow them in spring and keep within a cold frame. You could also scatter the seeds into cracks between paving slabs, as well as mix them with clay and push them into gaps in walls.
Or as I have done this year, divide them in the spring.
Don't worry too much if they look a bit sorry for themselves to start with.
They generally don't have problems, they seem to be pest and disease free. They can be lost during a very cold, wet winter when planted in heavy soil. It's best to avoid wet spots so add grit to help with drainage.
If you buy the right plant for the right conditions then you shouldn't have a problem. If you have free draining soil and a sunny spot in your garden, this plant should be very happy.
If you want to grow in cracks in walls and pavements, then grow from seed.
Nothing in Basket!