Erigeron strigosus

Daisy Fleabane

• Annual or biennial 
• Average to slightly rich or slightly dry soils
• Full sun to light shade
• 18” to 48” tall, 12” to 18” wide
• Summer blooms
• Native to Ontario, Beginner friendly, Meadow to dry meadow ecosystems

These are quite similar to Annual Fleabane in their lifecycle and preferences, having the capacity to grow as annuals but often take a biennial lifecycle approach. They are also very similar in appearance. In general, I find these to be slightly finer in texture, with narrower leaves and slightly smaller flowers than Annual Fleabane. The part that can make identification so difficult is that leaf and flower size and overall texture are also influenced by growing conditions. I’m only really confident in their distinct identification when I find them growing near each other, where variations in stem and leaf size and texture are more definitely a matter of species than of growing conditions. 
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Their primary bloom season extended over a 6-week period, with sporadic re-blooming after the first major flush. Like their Annual cousins, seeds on these are mature within days of the bloom fading and blow away quickly, making seed gathering an often daily activity before the puffs before the disperse on the breeze.

While variable in height, I’ve mostly seen these between 2’ and a bit over 3’ tall with an individual spread of around 12” to 18”. They are at their sturdiest and showiest in full sun locations and are quite tolerant of dry spells.

If you are working on establishing a full sun meadow or garden after disturbance, this is one of the species I would recommend including in the mix. Some other quick to mature species that would help to fill in a new meadow planting include Black-Eyed-Susan, Canada Wild Rye, Common Evening-Primrose, Blue Vervain and any of the other Erigerons in this series.