A little fleabane in the garden never hurt anything or anybody, and it’s good for the pollinators.
Fleabane, Erigeron sp. is a native wildflower that just shows up here and there in my garden throughout the growing season. I think what grows in my garden is either Annual Fleabane, Erigeron annus or Daisy Fleabane, Erigeron strigosus.
Annual or Daisy, I rarely pull it out when it shows up unexpectedly, even though it’s a common wildflower. Some might even call it a weed. They can hush up with such a word.
I don’t think it hurts the garden to have a bit of fleabane growing up, around, and through some of the other flowers, so when I see it, I thank it for coming to my garden, and leave it be.
Well, I don’t actually thank it. That would be something an eccentric gardener might do. Okay, I might thank it but that’s between me and the fleabane.
I’ve don’t remember ever seeing fleabane for sale around here, or anywhere, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t for sale someplace. But who needs to buy what Mother Nature provides for free?
Which reminds me. I’ve been reading that lots of little bees and other pollinators overwinter in the hollow stems of different perennial flowers and grasses, so we shouldn’t get all rambunctious and ambitious about fall garden clean up and cut everything down now, lest we destroy their winter homes. I’m taking that advice to heart. I may remove some plants infested with powdery mildew. I may cut off some seed heads of prolific self-sowers like asters, but I’m going to leave most of the stems standing until spring, especially in my August Dreams Garden which is mostly native prairie wildflowers
That will make spring time busier in my garden, but my overwintering garden guests will be happier because of it. And my friend Gail, who hosts Wildflower Wednesday on her blog at Clay and Limestone to promote wildflowers and pollinator friendly plants on the fourth Wednesday of the month, will be pleased with me, too.
Yes, so glad you are leaving the stalks and stems of plants stand all winter, the bees love you for it, and for the fleabane. xo
Carol, a neighbor walked into my garden one spring and said, "Isn't that a weed?!" when she saw my fleabane blooming lovely among borders and beds of spring flowers. I replied, "Not in my garden." She said, "Well, it is in mine!" To me it's a lovely filler, such as baby's breath is in a floral arrangement. Here in Kentucky my Common Fleabane blooms rampantly in the spring. Then in the summer the Daisy Fleabane opens and extends the smorgasbord for the butterflies and bees.
I've seen a lot of powdery mildew this year on plants not affected in the past. I try to leave some flowers but those that self-seed need to go this fall or my garden will be a jungle.
I have had near the same conversation with a neighbor regarding fleabane. I think it is lovely little surprise when it pops up.
I do the same!
These flowers are seen as weed where I live. But I see them as flowersâ„
In our sandy soil, whatever survives is welcome!
I agree..I am actually encouraging the fleabane in my garden. Makes a lovely filler in beds and on slopes. What's not to like about such a cheerful and undemanding flower?
I agree..I am actually encouraging the fleabane in my garden. Makes a lovely filler in beds and on slopes. What's not to like about such a cheerful and undemanding flower?
I agree..I am actually encouraging the fleabane in my garden. Makes a lovely filler in beds and on slopes. What's not to like about such a cheerful and undemanding flower?