Other Names:  Branching Fleabane, Desert Fleabane

Description:

A low, compact biennial that features white daisy-like flowers with gold centers that emerge from lavender buds; blooms from spring to fall, great for borders, beds, rock gardens or naturalizing; low maintenance-remove spent flowers

Ornamental Features

Spreading Fleabane has masses of beautiful white daisy flowers with gold eyes at the ends of the stems from early spring to late fall, which emerge from distinctive lavender flower buds, and which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Spreading Fleabane is an herbaceous biennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Self-Seeding

Spreading Fleabane is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

Spreading Fleabane will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity extending to 18 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. It grows at a fast rate, and tends to be biennial, meaning that it puts on vegetative growth the first year, flowers the second, and then dies. However, this species tends to self-seed and will thereby endure for years in the garden if allowed.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America..