How to grow Erigeron

What are erigerons?

Many erigerons are herbaceous perennials, though some are annuals

Annuals are plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season. They are generally easy to grow from seed or can be bought as young plants from garden centres. Annuals are ideal for growing in summer containers and filling gaps in borders. Some examples of annuals include sunflowers, cosmos, sweet peas and zinnia.

or biennials. They have daisy-like flowers and many have grey-green foliage. They have an exceptionally long flowering period. Many species originate from North America, though these plants can be found in dry grassland and mountainous areas around the world. Given the right conditions – avoiding excessive winter wet – they are fully hardy.

Choosing erigerons

Erigerons are small to medium-sized plants, suitable for the front or middle of the border. Low-growing types like E. glaucus ‘Sea Breeze’ have a creeping, carpeting habit and are ubiquitous at the seaside, tumbling over retaining walls in front gardens. The daintiest species, E. karvinskianus, is a wonderful plant for softening hard landscaping, and has an exceptionally long flowering period, blooming from early summer through to the first frosts. Beware, however, that in some parts of the world it is considered to be invasive

Invasive plants are those that grow vigorously, spread rapidly and can out-compete other plants. Native, non-native and cultivated plants can all be invasive.

and is even banned from sale in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, taller cultivars like E. ‘Quakeress’ and E. ‘Dunkelste Aller’ are more clump-forming. They can grow to about 60cm and often need some support with twigs or sticks. Many of these taller cultivars are hybrids. They are resilient plants which flower from June or early July into late autumn if deadheaded regularly.

Erigeron flowers are most commonly pastel shades like mauve, violet, lilac or pink – E. ‘Azurfee’ is a classic example – but occasionally they are orange or yellow (E. aureus ‘Canary Bird’).

To help you choose the perfect erigeron for you, look for those that have received the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit, as these have been assessed and are known to perform well. Use the RHS Find a Plant tool to browse images and focus your search on criteria for your particular requirements.

Alpines for dry stone walls

Buying erigerons

Erigerons are widely available from garden centres and nurseries as potted plants in spring and summer, or you can obtain some species as seed, which is easy to grow. Use our Find a Plant tool for stockists.

When to plant

Erigerons are best planted in spring, to avoid the risk of the plant sitting in cold, wet soil over winter before its roots have established.

Where to plant

Choose a sunny, free-draining position. Erigerons will do best in light soils, so if yours is heavy and prone to waterlogging, then plant in a container instead.

How to plant

Dig a hole slightly bigger than the plant’s rootball

The roots and accompanying soil when a plant is removed from a container or lifted from the ground.

. Pop in the plant, backfill with soil, firm it in and water well.

If you are planting into a gravel garden you will need to scrape away the gravel mulch

Mulch is a layer of material, at least 5cm (2in) thick, applied to the soil surface in late autumn to late winter (Nov-Feb). It is used to provide frost protection, improve plant growth by adding nutrients or increasing organic matter content, reducing water loss from the soil, for decorative purposes and suppressing weeds. Examples include well-rotted garden compost and manure, chipped bark, gravel, grit and slate chippings.

before planting and replace it afterwards. If you are planting in a rock garden, it’s probably easier to use plug plants

Seedlings or young plants grown singly in small modules, with the advantage that they can be transplanted with minimal root disturbance. Bedding plants and young veg plants are often sold as plug plants of various sizes, with smaller ones requiring more aftercare. They usually need to be potted up and grown on indoors until large enough to plant outside.

or seed because it will be difficult to dig a big hole.

In containers, use multi-purpose, peat-free compost

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

mixed with horticultural grit in a ratio of 3 parts compost to 1 part grit.

Perennials: planting

How to plant up a container

Drought-resistant gardening

Watering and feeding

Erigerons’ native

A native plant is one that originated or arrived naturally in a particular place without human involvement. In the British Isles, native plants are those that were here during the last ice age or have arrived unaided since.

habitats are dry grasslands and mountainous areas, so they are well adapted to poor soils, drought and full sun. Indeed, they need these conditions to thrive, so don’t be tempted to ply them with too much water or food. In the ground, they should take care of themselves, with no extra water or food needed.

Weeding

Some erigerons, especially E. karvinskianus, have a tendency to self-seed prolifically, so it’s worth checking regularly for unwanted plants and removing them.

Mulching

Mulching is not necessary, but if plants are growing in a border then they can be mulched alongside their neighbours. A low-nutrient mulch

Mulch is a layer of material, at least 5cm (2in) thick, applied to the soil surface in late autumn to late winter (Nov-Feb). It is used to provide frost protection, improve plant growth by adding nutrients or increasing organic matter content, reducing water loss from the soil, for decorative purposes and suppressing weeds. Examples include well-rotted garden compost and manure, chipped bark, gravel, grit and slate chippings.

, like leaf mould, will help suppress weeds as well as improve the soil’s ability to retain and release moisture, without making the growing environment too rich.

Mulches and mulching

In containers

Although they are not very thirsty or hungry plants, erigerons in containers will still need regular water and food. Check the compost

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

regularly with a finger to make sure it remains just moist, but not wet or soggy.

Compost usually contains enough nutrients

To grow well, plants need a wide range of nutrients in various amounts, depending on the individual plant and its stage of growth. The three key nutrients usually taken up from the soil are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Plants also need carbon, oxygen and hydrogen to make carbohydrates — their main energy source. Carbon and oxygen come from the air as carbon dioxide, while hydrogen is drawn from water absorbed by the roots. Other important soil nutrients include magnesium, calcium and sulphur. Most garden soils contain enough of these nutrients to support healthy plant growth.

to last 3-6 weeks after planting. Either add some slow-release fertiliser at the beginning of the season (according to the manufacturer’s instructions), or use a liquid seaweed feed every 14 days, diluted to half strength, to keep your erigerons performing well. Feed only during the growing season

The period of time when an individual plant is in active growth. This will depend on the local climate and light levels, and can vary between different plants, although it is broadly from spring to autumn.

(March to September).

Container maintenance

Overwintering

Erigerons in containers will benefit from protection from winter wet, so move them up against a wall in a ‘rain shadow’ or under cover. Those in the ground should be fine without protection as long as the soil is free draining.

Caring for older plants

Some erigerons have a tendency to go woody as they age, or their flowering diminishes. Regular pruning and division will help to avoid this (see Pruning).

Alpine erigerons, like E. karvinskianus or E. alpinus, need minimal pruning – just give them an occasional trim to tidy up any straggly bits – though if they seem to be getting woody, they can be cut to the ground in spring. Bushier erigerons should be cut back near to ground level at the beginning of spring, to keep them compact.

Many erigerons benefit from deadheading

Deadheading is the process of removing spent flowers from plants to encourage more blooms and prevent seed production. This helps to redirect the plant's energy into producing more flowers rather than producing seeds.

through the growing season

The period of time when an individual plant is in active growth. This will depend on the local climate and light levels, and can vary between different plants, although it is broadly from spring to autumn.

to promote more flowers. Equally, cutting them back after the first flush of flowers can encourage a second flush later in the season.

Taller erigerons often have a tendency to flop, so support them with sticks or stakes. Put these in place in spring, before the plants get tall – it’s much harder to do it later.

By seed

Most species of Erigeron (e.g. E. karvinskianus) and some cultivars are easy to propagate from seed.

You will also probably find self-sown seedlings

A seedling is a young plant grown from seed.

popping up in odd places! These can be transplanted

Moving a plant from one growing position to another, often from a pot to its final spot in the garden.

in spring and early summer if you wish. Just dig them up carefully, taking a clump of soil with them, and put them in a new part of the border or in a container with fresh compost

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

.

By cuttings or division

Erigeron cultivars are best propagated by dividing them or taking basal cuttings in spring.

Erigerons tend to be free of pests and diseases, though some of the hybrid

A plant produced by crossing two distinct parents, often different species, to produce offspring that combine the characteristics of both. Hybrids can occur naturally, but crosses are often made deliberately by plant breeders to produce plants with better yield, improved flowering or vigour, or improved disease resistance.

, taller cultivars are prone to powdery mildew if they get too dry. E. aurantiacus is vulnerable to slugs.

If you are a member of the RHS, you can use our online Gardening Advice Service for any gardening questions.