Showy Fleabane - 4" band
Erigeron speciosus
4" band
Clusters of leafy stems, 1/2-2 1/2 ft. tall, rise from the woody rootstock of this perennial. Each stem bears several showy, nearly 2 in. wide flower heads with from 70-150 blue, or rarely white, narrow rays. A leafy stem branches near the top into leafless stalks, each with one flower head at the end, with many narrow pink, lavender or white rays surrounding a yellow disk. The disk flowers are yellow-orange. The lower leaves of this plant tend to fall off as the season advances.
This Erigeron has one of the showiest heads, reflected in the species name, speciosus, which means pretty. Showy fleabane will form colonies. Divide mature plants when the rosettes begin to overlap. Remove fallen leaves from nearby trees in the fall, at they can smother the rosettes and cause them to rot.
Habitat: Dry to moist soil, blooms June-October, open woods
Size: .5-2.5'