Pulicaria dysenterica

RHS Plant Profile

common fleabane

Christopher Whitehouse

Other common names

greater fleabane, wild marigold, codowydd

Synonyms

Inula dysenterica

Herbaceous Perennial

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A distinctly downy perennial 50-90cm tall, with creeping rhizomes and slightly heart-shaped, wavy-edged leaves that clasp the stems. Woolly flowering stems reach up to 1m in height with clusters of flat, yellow, daisy-like flower heads with short ray petals and are borne from midsummer to early autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam

Moisture: Poorly–drained or Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Pulicaria are perennials with a preference for damp to marshy conditions. Growing to a height of around 50 to 90cm, they have hairy stems and lanceolate leaves with a wavy edge to them. The yellow flowers are short-lived appearing between August and September on long, thin stems. Flower heads are yellow and daisy-like, growing between 2 and 3 cm in width.
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows naturally in wet marshy ground and enjoys sunny locations with reliably moist soil but can tolerate a range of soil conditions

Propagation

Propagate by division or propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens
Wildflower meadow

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free