Forum home› Wildlife gardening
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Mexican Fleabane?

skankinpickleskankinpickle Posts: 119
in Wildlife gardening
Hi. Does anyone recommended Mexican Fleabane . . I am looking at some plug plants to help fill a gap . . .I heard they are easy to grow and low maintenance. 
Water would easily drain downwards as the gap is kind of 2 walls very close together with a gap in the middle.

Also are these flowers always white when bought? At what time do they change colour?
Not really into white flowers too much, but they look okay on photos as them seem to be a mix of white and pinky-purpley. Though wonder if this is how they will grow in reality.

Thanks.
«13

Posts

  • gjautosgjautos Posts: 429
    They are very easy to grow, the flowers start off pink then change to white. Be warned though, if they are happy they seed everywhere! 
  • skankinpickleskankinpickle Posts: 119
    Do you think these would also grow in crazy paving? 
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    skankinpickle said:
    Do you think these would also grow in crazy paving? 
    yes


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    skankinpickle said:
    Also are these flowers always white when bought? At what time do they change colour?
    Not really into white flowers too much, but they look okay on photos as them seem to be a mix of white and pinky-purpley. Though wonder if this is how they will grow in reality.
    I have a theory that the colour changes once the plant is pollinated. The white colour attracts the bugs but changes once it doesn't require the service anymore so that the bugs are more efficiently directed to the flowers that do need them. It happens in many other flowers but I'm not 100% that it's the case here.

    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • skankinpickleskankinpickle Posts: 119
    nutcutlet said:
    yes
    Is that Mexican Fleabane? If so what type?

    As an internet image search shows it looking more like a white/pink daisy like flower:
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited March 2023
    Mine seeds itself into cracks so I don't think it would have any problem colonizing crazy paving as long as the gaps aren't sealed up with mortar/cement. It's Erigeron karvinskianus, like the one in the picture, with flowers opening pink-ish and ageing to white. Personally I prefer the white stage to the pink (I like pink but not so much with yellow).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • skankinpickleskankinpickle Posts: 119
    JennyJ said:
    Mine seeds itself into cracks so I don't think it would have any problem colonizing crazy paving as long as the gaps aren't sealed up with mortar/cement. It's Erigeron karvinskianus, like the one in the picture, with flowers opening pink-ish and ageing to white. Personally I prefer the white stage to the pink (I like pink but not so much with yellow).
    How did you first grow it? From seeds or pot plants?
    Also in what month? Probably too late in the season to plant seeds for summer 2023 (though as I have said before - compared to Monty Don land almost April down there is almost always like February where I am).

    Plan is to get some plug plants and see how they do.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited March 2023
    I bought one plant. Now it comes up all over and I pull out what I don't want. I can't remember what time of year it was when I planted the original one.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    If you grow it in pots and put them on the paving you want it to colonise, then it will seed itself in the paving cracks from the pots. I did exactly this on my patio, it spreads very fast.
Sign In or Register to comment.