Erigeron glaucus Sea Breeze

Erigeron glaucus Sea Breeze, also known as fleabane, is a charming perennial plant, very floriferous from late spring to early summer.  It forms a low tuft of greenish-blue leaves and is adorned with semi-double head-shaped flowers, quite large compared to the size of the plant, in a delicate pink with a hint of mauve around a beautiful golden heart. Simple and generous, this Erigeron easily finds its place in the garden in rockeries and sunny borders, in light soil, which is not too dry, even limestone. It is also well adapted to coastal conditions.

Erigeron glaucus belongs to the Asteraceae family, just like asters and daisies. This botanical species grows on beaches, dunes and coastal cliffs in California and Oregon. It has become naturalised in Europe, where it is sometimes observed on the coasts. It is a perennial plant with a robust rootstock that reaches about 25 cm (10in) in height. Its ramified stems bear thick, slightly leathery, spoon-shaped leaves, occasionally with slightly dentate edges, measuring 2 to 13 cm (1 to 5in) long. In this species, they are greenish-blue. The foliage persists more or less depending on the severity of the winter. Flowering begins in May-June and, depending on the climate, can continue until October. The inflorescences are composed of 1 to 15 flowers in head-shaped clusters measuring between 1 and 3 cm (0 and 1in) in width. Each cluster consists of a golden centre surrounded by thin florets called ligules. In the Sea Breeze variety, the colour of the ligules is a delicate pink with a hint of mauve.

This hardy fleabane Sea Breeze has the advantage of abundant and long-lasting flowers in light and sunny soils. This excellent perennial is therefore welcome on the edge of a bed or path, or in a not too dry rockery. Combine it with undemanding perennials such as aubrietas, salvia nemorosa, valerian, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, dwarf asters, and many others. A beautiful scene can be created by associating it, for example, with Coreopsis 'Full Moon Madness' and Geranium vivace 'Elsbeth'.