Erigeron Quakeress

This Quakeress Fleabane is a small perennial with pale purple ligulate rays and a golden yellow centre, reminiscent of a spring daisy.

Also known as Fleabane, the type species of this Asteraceae is native to the vast plains and mountainous areas of North America.

It is a well-branched plant with upright stems reaching 60 cm (24in) in height and boasting long and abundant flowering. Numerous heads, measuring 2 cm (1in) in diameter, form a corymb from June to September. The pale purple flowers are narrower than those of asters, to which they bear a strong resemblance. The secondary stems, often longer than the main stem, give the Erigeron its characteristic candelabra-like habit. Its deciduous foliage, with a deep green hue, forms tufts of lanceolate leaves and creates an ideal vegetal carpet for groundcover or border planting.

Erigeron is undemanding and adapts to all types of soils, including limestone. It prefers dry conditions in summer rather than enduring waterlogged soils. It thrives best in full sun and appreciates rich and light soils. Consider using it to adorn a rock garden or a border planting alongside Red Valerian Centranthus ruber coccineus or Dunkelste Aller Fleabane.