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Erigeron karvinskianus

Mexican fleabane

Asteraceae Mexico and Central America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 6–9

Overview

Erigeron karvinskianus is a low, spreading perennial 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) tall and 12-36 inches (30-90 cm) wide, forming a loose mound of wiry, branching stems. The small, sparsely lobed leaves are grey-green, 0.5-1.5 inches (1-4 cm) long, and carried thinly along the stems. From late spring to autumn it makes a long succession of daisy flowers about 0.5-0.75 inch (1.5-2 cm) across, each opening white and ageing through pink to deep rose, so a single plant shows several colours at once. The stems root where they touch soil, and the plant self-seeds readily into wall crevices, paving joints, and gravel, where it can naturalise well beyond its planted position. In mild regions it stays in leaf through winter; hard frost cuts it back to the base, from which it regrows in spring. It tolerates drought, poor soil, and coastal exposure but is short-lived on heavy, wet ground. Growth is brittle and can look untidy by late season, when shearing renews it. Plants in deep shade flower sparsely and stretch toward the light.

Native Range

Erigeron karvinskianus is native to Mexico and Central America, growing on rocky slopes, banks, and walls. It has naturalised widely in mild temperate and Mediterranean climates, including parts of Europe, where it colonises old masonry.

Suggested Uses

Planted in wall crevices, paving gaps, gravel gardens, rock gardens, and the front of sunny borders, and used to soften steps and retaining walls. Suited to containers and green roofs where the trailing stems spill over edges.

How to Identify

Recognise it by the sprawling mat of thin, branching stems and the constant scatter of small daisy flowers in mixed white, pink, and rose on the same plant. Leaves are narrow, sparsely toothed or lobed near the tip, and grey-green. The flower centres are yellow, and faded blooms curl and darken before dropping.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'

Width/Spread1' - 3'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flowers appear from May through October, and for longer where winters stay mild. Bloom is continuous rather than flushed, with new buds opening daily across the plant. Each flower passes from white to pink to rose over a few days. Bees and hoverflies work the open daisies.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white, pink, and rose

Foliage Description

grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand chalk rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

Reaches flowering size within one season

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow in full sun to light shade on free-draining soil of low to moderate fertility, including gritty, sandy, or alkaline mixes. Water during establishment, after which it copes with drought and needs little attention. Heavy, wet winter soil is the main cause of loss, so sharp drainage matters more than feeding. Shearing the whole plant after the first heavy flush keeps it compact and limits excess self-seeding. In cold zones it behaves as a short-lived perennial and may need replacing every few years. Seedlings transplant easily when small.

Pruning

Cutting or shearing the plant back hard after the main flush removes tired growth and brings a fresh wave of bloom. A second trim in late summer keeps it within bounds. In frost-prone areas the dead top growth is left over winter and cleared in spring.