Santa Barbara daisy
Erigeron karvinskianus · Asteraceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant santa barbara daisy: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Semi-evergreen to evergreen depending on climate
- Flowering
- Spring and summer, sometimes until fall
- Mature size
- 30 to 60 cm tall, spreading and cascading habit
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Down to -5 °C depending on varieties
- Origin
- Mexico
- Soil type
- Well-drained, poor to moderate, tolerates chalky soils
Care
Watering
Water regularly when planting and during establishment. Once settled, fleabane is very drought-tolerant. In pots, keep the substrate slightly moist during the growing season, then reduce in winter. Avoid excess moisture which promotes disease.
Exposure
Place the plant in full sun or partial shade. It flowers more abundantly in the sun. In very hot regions, light afternoon shade can prevent excessive drying out. It adapts well to windy exposures.
Soil and potting mix
Prefer well-drained, light and poor soil or potting mix. Excess fertility encourages foliage at the expense of flowers. Adding sand or gravel improves drainage, which is essential to prevent root rot.
Pruning and pinching
Pinch young stems to encourage branching and a compact shape. Remove spent flowers regularly to extend flowering. In late winter or early spring, cut back lightly to rejuvenate the plant and thicken its silhouette.
Fertilizer
Apply little fertilizer: a light application in spring is enough. Excess nitrogen weakens flowering and promotes disease. In pots, balanced fertilizer every 3-4 weeks during growth is sufficient.
Diseases and pests
Susceptible to powdery mildew and rot in excessive moisture. Ensure good air circulation. Watch for aphids in spring. Treat quickly with gentle methods if problems occur. Perfect drainage prevents most issues.
Did you know?
Fleabane gets its scientific name from Wilhelm Friedrich von Karwinsky, a 19th-century German botanist who explored Mexico. Sometimes called 'flowering Mexican aster', it became popular in Europe as a rockery and wall plant from the 1980s onwards, appreciated for its generous flowering and relative hardiness in temperate climates.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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- YarrowAchillea millefolium
- Ox-eye daisyLeucanthemum vulgare
- SneezewortAchillea ptarmica
- Canadian goldenrodSolidago canadensis
- WormwoodArtemisia absinthium
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.