Mexican Fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus)

Where to Plant:

Commonly known as Mexican Fleabane, this wonderfully resilient perennial thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It is not fussy and will happily grow in poor soil, making it perfect for tucking into the cracks in paving, spilling over the edges of walls, or cascading from pots and hanging baskets. It is an excellent choice for softening the edges of paths and steps, or for a gravel garden, where it will produce a seemingly endless display of small, daisy-like flowers that open white before fading to pink.

How to Plant:

You can plant container-grown specimens at any time during the growing season. Dig a hole the same size as the pot, gently remove the plant and place it in the hole, ensuring it sits at the same depth as it was in the pot. Backfill with soil, firm it in gently and water well to help it establish. Be aware that it self-seeds freely, so if you do not want it to spread, choose a location where its seedlings can be easily managed.

Aftercare:

This is an exceptionally low-maintenance plant. Once established, it is very drought-tolerant and requires no feeding. It flowers for months on end with no deadheading required. To keep the plant looking fresh and vigorous, the best approach is to shear the entire plant back hard with shears in late winter or early spring. This will remove the old, tatty foliage and encourage a fresh flush of growth and even more flowers.