Erigeron philadelphicus aka Philadelphia Fleabane

Erigeron philadelphicus has three common names: Philadelphia fleabane, frostweed, and Robin's plantain. It belongs to Asteraceae, the daisy family. Its home range spans subarctic North America and the United States. It grows through much of Canada and throughout the U.S. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In the wild, it grows in fields and woods. It also grows in thickets and low prairies. Other sites include stream edges, roadsides, and railway tracks.

Garden plants reach about 2.5 feet [0.76 metres] tall. They spread about 1.5 feet [0.46 metres] wide. Missouri Botanical Garden calls it a biennial or short-lived perennial. This means it lives two years or a few years. Kew's checklist instead calls it an annual, lasting one year. A single stem bears soft hairs. The supplied species account gives no more facts about leaves. The flower heads look like small daisies. Each head spans about 0.08 feet [0.025 metres]. It has 100–150 thin rays round a yellow centre. These rays range from pale pink to white. Bracts, small leaf-like parts, sit side by side. They do not overlap. Flowers bloom from April to June and draw butterflies.

Grow this fleabane in full sun and well-drained soil. Plain garden soil suits it, with dry to moderate moisture. Soil must drain well; it need not be rich. The plant also takes light shade in hot summers. Wild plants grow on lime-rich clay and along streambanks. Missouri Botanical Garden lists USDA hardiness zones 2–7. It calls the plant easy to grow, needing little care. It also notes that the plant tolerates drought and deer. Sow seeds in spring where the plants will grow. Plants For A Future says seeds sprout within about four weeks.

The flowers suit cottage gardens and native wildflower beds. They also fit butterfly gardens, meadows, borders, and rock gardens. Areas left to grow wild give its loose growth space. Plants may shed seeds and spread well where conditions suit them. Both garden sources warn that it may become a weed. This matters when gardeners want to keep gaps clear. Powdery mildew, leaf spots, and rust can harm the plant.

Plants For A Future lists no known uses as food. It notes past use as medicine, in teas and poultices. A poultice is a pack placed on the skin. These past uses do not prove home treatment is safe. Touching the plant can cause dermatitis, a rash, in those with sensitive skin. The source warns against its use as medicine during pregnancy. It reports that taking the plant poses a risk of miscarriage.