Learning about Oregon native plants to expand my plant ID knowledge, find drawing inspiration, and share the results. Each week I will pick a plant to learn about, focusing on those that I have growing in my home garden to start, and spend some time drawing and studying it.
This week’s plant is erigeron speciosus - aka Showy Fleabane or Aspen Fleabane.
I have been growing this plant for a couple years in my garden and I fall in love with it every summer. It blooms seemingly forever, has tons of character, is humble, beautiful, and super easy going - it will even do fine in some shade and fares better than other flowers during the hot summer when water is scarce. It also looks sweet in bouquets.
Some info about this sweet perennial plant:
grows up to 3’ x 3’ in time but usually a bit shorter
leafy growth with flowers floating on the surface
can cut back the first flush of blooms before going to seed to encourage more
leaves turn red in late summer / fall
prefers moisture but will tolerate some dryness too - it’s pretty adaptable!
pollinators love it of course (who wouldn’t); caterpillar host
It’s native to OR and WA and other some other western states but notably not California
can be divided to create more plants
All photos taken by me, unless otherwise specified. Drawings made by me.