Erigeron – a top plant for so many occasions

Erigeron Karvinskianus is one of my favourites for good reason. The small daisy-like plant has a big impact wherever you put it. It’s a brilliant pollenator (attracting butterflies and moths), it’s versatile and no trouble at all. It’s a trooper!

The perennial forms a wide, 15cm high mat of frothy flowers from Spring to Autumn. These start off white and turn pinkish purple.

Perfect Partner in Pots

This might not sound very exciting, but when you put it in a patio pot with say a rose, the little plant loosens things up, creating a wonderful creative touch. For instance, I have Erigeron planted with a lovely yellow rose, The Poet’s Wife, in a large pot at the front of my house. The Erigeron has created an overflowing cushion of daisies, whose yellow centres pick up the yellow of the rose.

True, it may not have the drama of say tulips. However, when parterning a rose, I think Erigeron is hard to beat. It becomes a patio star. (It also looks lovely in a pot on its own by the way.)

Disguising Tricky Areas

However it’s not just in patio pots where Erigeron Karvinskianus performs. It’s tumbling, spreading nature makes it ideal for covering up unsightly areas.

I’ve planted it along the edge of a rather neglected raised wooden bed, which among other things houses my compost heap. When I say ‘compost heap’, I use the term very loosely. It may be a heap, but it has precious little useful compost in it; yes it’s full of garden debris, leaves and grass clippings, but because it also has bindweed in it, I never dare put any of it on the garden!

Anyway, it’s fair to say that this is an awkward area which would otherwise look very scruffy. But by planting Erigeron and irises along the edge of the bed, the whole effect works nicely. It looks as though lots of thought and care has gone into it. But it really hasn’t, I’ve just planted the Erigeron and left it to do its thing.

Patio Performer

I also make good use of Erigeron on the patio itself. My patio slabs have shingle between them, as we wanted to be sure the area would drain well. However, this makes the gaps an absolute magnet for weeds. Having spent far too many hours weeding the area, I’ve now decided to stop trying to fight a losing battle. Rather than trying to keep the paving gaps clear of plants I’ve deliberately planted some Erigeron amongst some of the paving stones – and true to form it has spread nicely. It is gradually filling the space – removing growing opportunities for weeds, so making my life much easier!

Some say that there is a risk of Erigeron becoming invasive, but Karvinskianus isn’t too bad. Yes, it has spread on my patio very effectively, but it’s very easy to pull up.

Indeed, if I feel it’s getting too out of control on the patio, I literally take the scissors to it, and give it a ‘haircut’!

Erigeron Karvinskianus – the Facts as I see them!

• Common name, Mexican Fleabane
• Perennial
• 15 cm high, spread 0.5 Metres – 1 Metres
• Ideal for informal, cottage garden style planting
• Best in full sun, but likes some midday shade (that said the Erigeron planted with my rose is in full sun all day and I’ve also got it thriving in a shady flower bed!)
• It’s very easy to propagate. I simply dig up a small clump, taking care to dig up its roots too, and move it to where I want it!
• I’ve read that you are meant to dead head it to encourage flowering, but I’ve never needed to do this to have it flower profusely!
• I’ve also just read that you should cut it back to ground level in the Autumn, but I’ve also never done this. I’ll maybe try that this year – though I’ll probably forget!
• Great plant partner. In addition to roses I’ve seen it planted under hydrangeas and lilacs. I’ve also got it planted alongside stachys and irises. It also looks lovely with pale pink tulips growing up through it.

So as a hard-working plant that’s versatile, long-flowering, pretty, easy to propagate, a powerful pollenator, plus pest and disease free, Erigeron Karvinskianus is a star. It has earned it’s place as one of my absolute favourites.