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FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Erigeron pulchellus var. pulchellus ‘Lynnhaven Carpet’ provides a thick mat of evergreen ground cover in partial to full shade. The fuzzy grey-green leaves prevent weeds as the stoloniferous spread creates a carpet of foliage; making the perfect groundcover. Happy at the edge of paths, around stepping stones, holding soils in place in steep areas, and as an understory of a matrix planting. An added bonus is the butterfly enticing aster like flowers that show off in late spring in white to pale lavender.

HABITAT & HARDINESS: Robin’s plantain is a groundcover native to eastern and central USA in the aster (Asteraceae) family. Even though the species is biennial, or short lived, plants will produce stolons, which will colonize open areas to continue to populate the landscape. Additionally, plants may spread by self-seeding.
Erigeron pulchellus is native to rocky or open woods, thickets, fields, moist streambanks, disturbed areas and roadsides from Minnesota to Ontario, Quebec and Maine south to Florida, Louisiana and Texas, per Missouri Botanical Garden.
Erigeron pulchellus var. pulchellus ‘Lynnhaven Carpet’ was selected for its large grey-green foliage, the tight mat-forming habit and adaptability to a wide range of soil, moisture and environmental conditions.
Hardy in USDA Zones 3-8.

PLANT DESCRIPTION:  Erigeron pulchellus var. pulchellus ‘Lynnhaven Carpet’ is a beautiful and easy to grow ground cover that adapts to a full range of soil conditions. ‘Lynnhaven Carpet’ has large grey-green foliage which forms a tight knit groundcover less than 6” tall. It is best sited in moderate sunlight to full shade locations, but also thrives in full sun with adequate moisture. The fun daisy like flowers that pop up on 12” stems are a welcome bonus for several weeks in late spring to early summer.
The soft, velvety basal leaves are up to 6 inches long with smaller leaves ascending the stem, forming a flat groundcover, less than 6” tall. Clusters of showy white to pale lavender flowers with a sunshiny yellow center appear from April to June for a 2-week period on 12” -15”tall stems. The flowers are numerous and delicate with 30-50 thin, thread-like petals per rays on 1” flowers.
Erigeron pulchellus has hairy, hollow, unbranched, sparsely-leaved flowering stems rising from a basal clump of paddle-shaped, scalloped to bluntly toothed, soft and hairy leaves (2-6” long).

CULTURAL & MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  This medium growth, low maintenance plant will do best with some shade and is adaptable to most soils– sandy, clay, silt and rocky shallow soils. Plants will also thrive in full sun with adequate moisture. Best in poor to modest soils which have not been fertilized.  Resistant to Drought, Heat and Humidity.
The flower stems can be removed as they die back for gardens that require a tidy appearance.

LANDSCAPE USES: Use this plant in matrix plantings, in Rock Gardens, as a Ground cover on slopes and in naturalized areas. Flowers attract butterflies and bees so a nice addition to Pollinator Gardens and Cottage Gardens. The species also works well in shady Greenroof landscapes.

COMPANION & UNDERSTUDY PLANTS:  Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’; Tiarella cordifolia; Aster divaricatus and Phlox divaricatus are suitable companion plants.
Fragaria virginiana and Sedum ternatum could be utilized as a substitute for a low spreading ground cover.

TRIVIA:

Erigeron pulchellus var pulchellus ‘Lynnhaven Carpet’ was selected on the Virginia Beach property of Clarice Keeling, near the Lynnhaven River, and named by Pennsylvania plantsman, Charles Cresson.

The botanical name comes from the Greek words meaning early, old man and beautiful, likely a reference to the spring bloom time and fuzzy silvery leaves similar to a white beard.
A common name for plants in the Erigeron genus is Fleabane because these plants were believed to repel fleas.