Native to the north-western US, This delicate wildflower that blooms between April and June can be found growing along forest edges, in forests, meadows, and along the shores of rivers and lakes. It is considered a biennial or short-lived perennial. Each stem will boast several stalked flower heads. Each flower head is 0.5-1 in. with 100 or more pink to pale magenta 1/4", thread-like rays or petals. The rays/petals are each 1/4" long. Encasing the flower head are several layers of various-length bracts that taper to a pointed tip. They may be covered with spreading hairs that can be mixed with minute glandular hairs. It likes thickets, fields, and open woods. Some shade is tolerated in hotter climates. It is, however, easy to grow in a variety of garden locations. Plant between 1.5 and 2 feet apart. It self-seeds easily. Plant in mass in a cottage, butterfly, or rock garden, or let it naturalize in a meadow. Fleabane is often confused with plants in the Aster genus, but it blooms later in the season than Asters , and the flower bracts do not overlap as they do with Aster flowers. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It may not thrive in a very hot and humid climate, which may also be factored in some susceptibility to powdery mildew, leaf spots, and rust. More information on Erigeron .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Cascading; Erect
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Oblanceolate; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Entire; Lobed
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Basal leaves are spatula-shaped, lobed and toothed. Moving up the stems, leaves become smaller, alternate, clasping and untoothed. The leaves are smooth to sparsely hairy. Leaves will become smaller and more lance/egg-shaped as they ascend the stem.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Daisy-like 1" diameter pink to white thread-like rays with yellow centers.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit detail
The brown fruits have a tuft of hairs that are carried by the wind.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The green to reddish stems are erect, single, and unbranched.