Plant profile

Fleabanes

Genus Erigeron

Fleabanes (genus Erigeron) are easygoing wildflowers with daisy-like blooms that can brighten gardens, schoolyards, and balcony pots while offering steady nectar and pollen for many small pollinators.

Plant Type

Wildflowers (herbaceous perennials) > Fleabanes

Aliases

Fleabane

Native Range

Includes species native to many parts of North America; exact range depends on the species.

Bloom window

Often blooms from late spring into summer, and sometimes longer depending on the species and conditions.

Overview Summary Impact Recognition Location Requirements Glossary Get Involved

OVERVIEW

About This Plant

Fleabanes (genus Erigeron) are highly functional wildflowers, serving as excellent filler plants that can brighten sunny spots and naturalized patches. Their airy, branching stems add a soft, layered texture to garden borders and meadow-style plantings, making them easy to integrate into diverse habitat designs.

Ecologically, Fleabanes provide a steady, accessible source of nectar and pollen through their small, daisy-like blooms, making them a “workhorse” for many small pollinators, particularly emerging native bees and flies. To ensure maximum pollinator benefit, plant in well-drained soil and avoid using pesticides. Simple deadheading after bloom can help manage self-sowing if needed.

Best role for pollinators

Sunny borders, naturalized patches, school gardens, and containers where you want a long run of small, daisy-like flowers.

Fleabanes (Erigeron spp.) — https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/154036344 Photo: (c) Ron Vanderhoff, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) | CC-BY-NC | iNaturalist

FAST FACTS

Quick Details

Essential stats and requirements for quick reference.

Category	Details
Also known as	Fleabane
Bloom window	Often blooms from late spring into summer, and sometimes longer depending on the species and conditions.
Typical height	Varies by species; often low to medium height, from compact clumps to taller, airy stems.
Pollinators supported	Bees, Butterflies, Flies, Beetles
Light & moisture	Best in sun to part sun with average moisture; many types handle short dry spells once established.
Best roles for pollinators	Sunny borders, naturalized patches, school gardens, and containers where you want a long run of small, daisy-like flowers.

SUMMARY

If You Remember Three Things

A quick scan of what they do, what they need, and the best first step.

What they do

Fleabanes offer lots of small, open flowers that many pollinators can visit easily.

What they need

Sun or bright light, decent drainage, and a little space to form a clump.

One best action

Plant fleabanes in a sunny spot and deadhead some blooms to keep flowers coming while preventing unwanted spread.

IMPACT

Why Plant This?

Fleabanes are a simple way to add lots of small, accessible flowers to a garden. When planted in groups, they can create a reliable “snack bar” for a variety of pollinators without needing fussy care.

Many fleabanes look delicate, but they can be surprisingly tough once settled in.

Key Impacts

What it Supports

Open, daisy-like flowers are easy landing pads for many insects.
A patch of small blooms can add up—especially when planted in groups.
Works well in “everyday” spaces like borders, paths, and pots.

RECOGNITION

Identification Guide

Look for a daisy-like flower with a yellow center and many thin ray petals, often in a loose spray of blooms.

Leaves

Leaves vary by species; often a small basal rosette with narrower leaves up the stem. Texture can range from smooth to slightly hairy.

Flowers

Daisy-like blooms with a yellow center and many thin ray petals, often white to pale pink or lavender tones.

Fruits

After bloom, forms fluffy seed heads that can drift and self-sow.

LOCATION

Where It Grows

Native environments and the best spots to place it in your landscape.

Habitats

Open fields and meadows
Roadsides and disturbed ground
Sunny woodland edges
Dry to average garden soils

Where it is often used

Pollinator patch plantings
Sunny borders and path edges
Meadow-style or naturalized areas
Containers and balcony pots
Filling gaps between larger perennials

SEASONALITY

When It Blooms

Notes on bloom windows and how this plant helps pollinators across the seasons.

Bloom window

Fleabanes are often at their best when you want lots of small flowers over a long stretch of time.

Bloom Season Role: A steady, everyday nectar-and-pollen plant that can help fill gaps between bigger bloom “events.”

Seasonal benefits

Keeps a patch looking lively between bigger bloom waves
Pairs well with bold flowers by adding a light, airy texture
Can be trimmed to encourage fresh blooms

REQUIREMENTS

What It Needs

The right mix of sun, soil, and space for healthy growth.

Sun exposure

Full sun is best for strong flowering; part sun also works in many gardens.

Soil type

Adaptable; does best in well-drained soil. Avoid constantly wet spots.

Moisture needs

Water to establish; after that, water during long dry stretches, especially in containers.

Planting method

Plant in spring or fall. Give plants room for airflow and to form a clump.

Mulching tips

Use a light mulch to reduce weeds, but keep mulch off the crown to prevent rot.

GARDENING GUIDE

How to Grow It

Simple steps to plant, prune, and maintain healthy trees without pesticides.

Planting tips

Choose a sunny to partly sunny spot with decent drainage (or use a pot with drainage holes).
Loosen the soil and remove weeds so young plants don’t have to compete.
Plant at the same depth as the pot it came in; firm soil gently around roots.
Water well after planting, then keep lightly moist until you see new growth.
Add a simple plant label so you remember what it is and can track how it spreads.

Seasonal care

Deadhead some spent flowers to encourage more blooms and reduce self-seeding.
If plants get floppy, do a light mid-season trim to tidy and refresh growth.
Divide clumps every few years if they get crowded or to share with others.
Leave some stems and seed heads if you want natural reseeding—remove them if you prefer a neater bed.

What not to do

Planting in deep shade and expecting lots of flowers
Overwatering or planting where water sits after rain
Letting it self-seed into places you don’t want it
Using broad-spectrum pesticides “just in case”

Pairings

Best Pairings for Season-Long Bloom

Pairing ideas to keep pollinators fed throughout the growing season.

Early Bloom

Wild strawberries
Spring ephemerals (where appropriate)
Early-blooming native violets

Mid-Season Bloom

Black-eyed Susans
Bee balm
Coreopsis

Late-Season Bloom

Goldenrods
Asters
Joe-Pye weed

“Fleabane” is a common name used for many Erigeron species. If you’re shopping, check the plant tag for the exact species and choose one suited to your space and goals.

GLOSSARY