New England Wild Flower Society

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Erigeron pulchellus

Robin's plantain fleabane


Robin's plantain is a showy early bloomer in the aster family. The flowers are relatively large, usually blue, and start out with a green center that is particularly unique. It is an evergreen groundcover, with leathery leaves that are wonderful for suppressing weeds.

Click on these links to read in detail:  General Description | Benefits | Ecology | References


Height: 12-18 in
Spread: 8-12 in
Hardiness Zone: 3-8


Bloom Color: Blue

Characteristics & Attributes

Cultivation Status
Species
Exposure
Sun
Part Shade
Soil Moisture
Dry
Average
Ecoregion
(59) Northeastern Coastal Zone
(84) Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens
(82) Acadian Plains and Hills
(58) Northeastern Highlands
(83) Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands
Ornamental Interest
Summer Bloom
Spring Bloom
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Songbirds
Attracts Bees
Host Plant
Attracts Hummingbirds
Pollinator Powerhouse Plant
Other Pollinators/Wildlife
Tolerance
Drought Tolerant
Urban Environment
Additional Attributes
Low Maintenance
Landscape Use
Naturalize
Groundcover
Meadow garden
Rock garden
Growth Habit
Spreading/Suckering


North American Distribution


General Description

Bloom Description: Blooms May-June. Blue, though sometimes white or pink. The inflorescence is aster shaped, but has many, fine ray flowers that are typical of fleabanes.

Growth Habit & Shape: Slowly spreading rhizomatous groundcover.

Soil Preferences: Dry to average, sandy, gravelly, or loamy sand with good drainage.

Root Description: Rhizomatous, fibrous.

Garden Uses: Rock gardens, meadows, short meadows, forest edges, as a groundcover (or green mulch) between larger, clump-forming plants or in part shade.

Best Management & Maintenance: Very low maintenance. Stems die back shortly after blooming, while the basal foliage remains green throughout the season. Easy to transplant after flowering.

Common Problems: No serious problems.

Benefits

Ornamental Value:

Wildlife Benefits: Highly attractive to a variety of early season pollinators, particularly small bees. Caterpillars also use this plant as a food source, including the common pug and the lynx flower moth.

Other Practical/Environmental Benefits: Erosion control, weed suppression.

Use in place of:

Ecology

Habitat:
Grows naturally in a wide range of conditions--dry to moist meadows and fields, forest edges and openings, stream banks.


Response to Disturbance: Resilient to disturbance and will spread into areas that have been recently disturbed with exposed soils. Not as aggressive as other fleabanes.

Native State Distributions:
Canada: ON , QC
USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV


Wetland indicator status: FACU

Companion Plants:
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), wavy hair grass (Deschampsia flexuosa) silverrod (Solidago bicolor), pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), purple love grass (Eragrostis spectabilis), and Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis).

References

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Photo by Dan Jaffe © Native Plant Trust
Photo by Dan Jaffe © Native Plant Trust
Photo by Dan Jaffe © Native Plant Trust
Photo by Dan Jaffe © Native Plant Trust
Photo by Dan Jaffe © Native Plant Trust
Photo by Dan Jaffe © Native Plant Trust