Erigeron annuus aka Daisy Fleabane

Erigeron annuus, or daisy fleabane, belongs to the daisy family, Asteraceae. It comes from eastern North America, including Canada and the United States. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Other names include tall fleabane, tall daisy, and lace button. Aster annuus is a synonym. Wild plants grow in fields, waste ground, and prairies. They also grow on open land across several soil types.

The RHS describes this plant as a short-lived perennial. It grows upright and forms clumps with bright green leaves. The foliage is deciduous, rather than green all year. Garden plants reach about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] tall and wide. Each plant may grow only one to three flower stems. Seeds fall and grow nearby, so groups can look like larger clumps. The RHS gives two to five years to reach full size.

The flowers look like small daisies, with white rays around yellow centres. The white parts gain a pink tint as they age. Plants For A Future places flowering from early through late summer. These flowers suit beds and borders where loose groups can develop. The RHS also suggests cottage gardens, prairie schemes, and coastal sites. Meadows and wildlife gardens are further suggested settings. The upright stems and groups of seedlings give a fuller border display.

Grow this plant in full sun and fertile soil with good drainage. Sandy soil and loam both suit it. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline soils. The RHS advises soil that stays moist through summer. Both exposed and sheltered sites can suit it. The RHS rates its hardiness as H7. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 3–8. Raise new plants from seed, divide clumps, or take basal softwood cuttings. In early spring, trim old growth near the ground above new shoots. There is no need to remove spent flowers.

The RHS reports few usual problems with pests or disease. Self-seeding helps fill a planting, but it may also create weeds. Plants For A Future flags the species as having weed potential. It lists leaves as edible and records boiling the young plant. Its food-use rating is low, at one out of five. That source reports no known hazards, rather than proof of complete safety. It lists no known medicinal uses or other practical uses.