Erigeron karvinskianus 'Profusion' Seeds

Erigeron karvinskianus, known as Mexican Fleabane, is a robust Hardy Perennial (H5). While it originates from Central America, it has become a staple of the British cottage garden, perfectly suited to the UK climate where it established itself in stone walls and paving gaps with ease.

The Colour-Shift Trick: One of the most enchanting features of this plant is that the flowers change colour as they age. A single clump will simultaneously display brilliant white buds, fresh white daisies, and older flowers that have transitioned through soft pink to deep wine-purple, giving the plant a multi-tonal, "wildflower" look.

The Persistent Wanderer: Erigeron is a prolific self-seeder. Once introduced to a garden, it will gently "wander" into cracks and crevices where other plants would struggle to find soil. This habit makes a garden look instantly established and romantic, though rogue seedlings are very shallow-rooted and easy to remove if they appear where they aren't wanted.

Erigeron seeds are dust-like and require light to trigger the biological process of germination.

How to Sow:
Sow indoors from February to May. Surface sow the seeds onto moist, fine seed compost. Do not cover the seeds with soil or vermiculite, as they require light to germinate; simply press them gently into the surface to ensure good contact. Keep at 15-20°C; germination typically occurs within 14-30 days.

Where to Plant:
They demand full sun and exceptionally well-drained soil. They are the ideal choice for south-facing walls, gravel gardens, or spilling over the edges of terracotta pots. Once established, Mexican Fleabane is remarkably drought-tolerant, requiring very little supplemental watering even in hot UK summers.

Ongoing Care:
If the plants begin to look straggly or "exhausted" in mid-summer, simply shear the whole mound back by half with garden scissors. This "haircut" will stimulate a rapid flush of fresh green growth and a secondary, prolific wave of flowers within weeks. In autumn, dead stems can be cut back to the base, and the plant will re-sprout vigorously in the spring.

Erigeron is the ultimate "shoes and socks" plant, perfect for covering the bare stems of taller partners from our collection:

• 💜 Verbena bonariensis: The Designer Scale. This is a classic architectural pairing. The tall, wiry stems of the Verbena shoot up to 1.5m, while the Erigeron froths around its base like a white cloud, hiding the soil and creating a sophisticated two-tier display.
• 💙 Salvia 'Victoria Blue': The Edging Contrast. Plant the deep indigo-blue spikes of the Salvia in the centre of a large pot or border, and let Erigeron 'Profusion' spill over the edges. The intense blue contrast against the soft pink-and-white daisy carpet is breathtaking.

Sow indoors in spring for a tireless display of colour-changing daisies from early summer until the very first frosts of November.