Erigeron karvinskianus
As gardeners we’re always looking for that one special plant. Ideally a plant that is hardy, flowers for a long period, and is perennial, returning year after year to entertain us with its interesting foliage or beautiful flowers. The RHS offer help by listing their ‘Plant of the Year’ and very interesting and useful it is too.
This year it was the compact Philadelphus ‘Petite Perfume Pink’ that received the accolade. Last year it was a wonderful flowering cherry Prunus ‘Starlight’ introduced by Frank P Matthews. Even more helpful for the avid plant hunter is the list of runners up which this year included Hosta ‘Silly String’, Salvia ‘Peach Melba’, and a stunning Miscanthus with purple-red leaves called ‘Lady in Red’.
One special plant that would go on my own Plant of the Year list would be Erigeron karvinskianus. Also known as the mexican fleabane it has proven to be incredibly hardy and seems to thrive in most garden situations. I love it in pots where its dome of daisy-like flowers continues throughout the summer, probably giving eight months or more of continual enjoyment. It is prone to seeding around, though not invasively, and will give you plenty of plants to offer to friends and neighbours.
In my front garden it has escaped the confines of the pot and occupies the 1mm gap at the edge of the driveway, softening the junction between tarmac and wall. Although not having ever achieved the RHS Plant of the Year accolade I’m very happy to see that it has been awarded an AGM - The RHS Award of Garden Merit. Definitely well deserved.
