The gardener's eye

The Gardener's Eye

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Erigeron pulchellus var. pulchellus ‘Lynnhaven Carpet’



Erigeron pulchellus var. pulchellus ‘Lynnhaven Carpet’  is a new groundcover I have growing in the woodland. This plant has large greenish gray fuzzy leaves and has quickly formed a 6 " tall mat that suppresses weeds. The best characteristic of this plant is that it handles dry shade without skipping a beat.


In late May, Erigeron pulchellus var. pulchellus ‘Lynnhaven Carpet’, also called Robin's plantain, has light lavender daisy-like flowers rising above the foliage on foot-long stalks. I got divisions of this plant while visiting Charles Cresson at his Swarthmore, PA garden last June. Charles, a keenly-eyed plantsman, found this plant growing on the Virginia Beach, VA property of  Clarice Keeling. He named it after the nearby Lynnhaven River. Erigeron pulchellus is a North American native grows from Canada to Florida and has proven to be an east-to-grow plant in my sometimes dry woodland.


7 comments:

  1. That's a nice, lush plant for taking dry shade. Has me thinking that a local Erigeron here, when in less than half-day sun, might work in that setting, too? Dry shade - a challenge to some, but here where filtered sun is still bright, seems I need to explore more such options...Mirabilis, etc.

    A new blog layout? Looks bold and simple!

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    1. This plant has been really easy in the summer heat. I am playing around with layouts. I still have some technological things to work out.

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  2. This plant sold well at the botanical garden's plant sale. We are very close to the Lynnhaven and propagated it from the the original source.

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    1. That is very exciting to hear,Les. It does well here in NH.

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  3. Exciting to have a plant not even available in the nursery trade. I looks quite intriguing.

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    1. It would be interesting to learn how it would do you in your wet clay at Federal Twist? I think it is a very adaptable plant.

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