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Robin's Plantain Erigeron pulchellus

Previously known as:

  • Erigeron pulchellus
Phonetic Spelling
er-IJ-er-on pul-KEL-us
Description

Robin's plantain is a biennial or short-lived perennial wildflower or groundcover in the aster (Asteraceae) family. It is native to eastern and central USA including NC and is found growing along forests, stream banks and fields.  Genus name comes from the Greek words eri meaning early and geron meaning old man in reference to the early bloom time and downy plant appearance suggestive of a white beard. The specific epithet from Latin means beautiful. 

Clusters of showy flowers appear at the stem tops from April to June.  The many white to light lavender rays surround the center yellow disc flowers. Both the ray flowers and disc flowers are fertile. The basal leaves are up to 6 inches long with smaller leaves ascending the stem. 

This plant will do best with some shade and is adaptable to various soils as long as they are well drained. Rocky and sandy soils are best in average to dry conditions.  They will perform poorly in soils with too much organic matter.  Plants will spread through the garden through self-seeding or by its stoloniferous runners.  Propagate by seed or division. Each plant will send out stolons to create new plants before dying.

Use this plant in mass plantings, in rock gardens, as a ground cover,  on slopes, in naturalized areas, in front of the border or along walkways. They will attract various pollinators for you.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems though occasionally suffer from rust, leaf spots and powdery mildew.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Lynnhaven Carpet'
'Lynnhaven Carpet'
Tags:
#purple#showy flowers#drought tolerant#violet#low maintenance#cottage garden#ncemgva2018#NC native#rock garden#border planting#hairy leaves#food source summer#food source nectar#food source pollen#rocky soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#FACU Piedmont Mountains#Coastal FACU#wildlife friendly#meadow#th-touch
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Lynnhaven Carpet'
'Lynnhaven Carpet'
Tags:
#purple#showy flowers#drought tolerant#violet#low maintenance#cottage garden#ncemgva2018#NC native#rock garden#border planting#hairy leaves#food source summer#food source nectar#food source pollen#rocky soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#FACU Piedmont Mountains#Coastal FACU#wildlife friendly#meadow#th-touch
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Erigeron
    Species:
    pulchellus
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Biennial
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Root Cutting
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    East Canada to U.S.A
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , CT , DC , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: ON , QC
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers attract butterflies and bees.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Bullet-shaped achene with tufts of hair. Seeds wind-dispersed. Displays from June to July.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Radial
    Flower Petals:
    more than 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    1 to 1.5 in. head with 30 - 50 very thin petals around a flat, yellow central disc from April to June. Flowers appear in clusters of 2-6 blooms.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Soft
    Velvety
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Basal clump of 2"-6" long leaves paddle-shaped with teeth or scallops. Leaves along the stem are smaller ovate to lanceolate and clasp the stem. Hairs present mostly on the undersides.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    soft, hairy, hollow unbranched
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Near Septic
    Riparian
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Children's Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Heat
    Humidity