Blossoming Perennial Offers Instant Flower Display, Instantly Elevating Pot Appeal
Level Up Your Garden Pots on a Budget: The Erigeron MethodLove the idea of a flower-filled pot but don't want to break the bank? Look no further than the Mexican fleabane, or Erigeron. This tough plant is not only easy on the wallet, but it's also a fast grower that'll have your pots brimming with blooms in no time. Here’s the lowdown on how to propagate it like a pro.
If you haven't gardened with Erigeron before, you might be familiar with the hardy perennial from garden borders or crevices. But did you know it's a prime candidate for container planting too? Gardening Instagrammer Anya Lautenbach is a fan and swears by it as an effective, budget-friendly way to fill pots with a profusion of blooms.
To get started, grab yourself an Erigeron karvinskianus plant, readily available for around £4.89 at Crocus. From there, it's all about the art of division. Simply pull an outer section of the plant and place it in some water for the plant to hydrate. Once it's sufficiently hydrated, pop it into a new pot.
'By pulling an outer section of the plant, you can easily create more plants for your garden,' says Anya. 'Within a few weeks, the divided plants will grow and flower, giving you even more to fill your pots with.'
Planting up your divided sections couldn't be simpler. Just ensure the pot has well-drained soil, and provide your Erigeron with full sun. Once planted, water well and let nature take its course. Thanks to its fast growth rate, you'll soon be admiring a wild, abundant display of daisy-like blooms spilling over the pot edges.
Established gardeners know that Erigeron is a versatile plant that can thrive in all sorts of nooks and crannies, from cracks in the pavement to wall crevices. It even appeared in Cath Kidston's patio garden, a testament to its adaptability.
And the benefits of Erigeron don't stop with cost-effectiveness. This plant is a top choice for cottage garden enthusiasts thanks to its long-flowering period. In fact, gardening guru Sarah Raven recommends it for adding a soft, tumbling effect to container displays.
'Erigeron is an excellent choice for pots, working well as a pot topper or planted alone to create a trailing effect,' says Sarah. 'Plus, it's a perfect spiller plant that looks gorgeous when it trails over the edges of pots and containers.'
To maximize your Erigeron harvest, follow Sarah's tips on division: Lift a large, healthy clump, tease the roots apart to form smaller clumps, and be sure each clump has its own roots and shoots. The Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Hori Hori Multi-Tool from Amazon is a handy tool for this task.
Once divided and potted, nurture your new plants with a little grit for drainage and occasional watering. To get even more blooms, let the spent flowers go to seed. Soon enough, you'll have more Erigeron plants than you know what to do with!
In a nutshell, Erigeron is an easy-to-propagate, long-blooming perennial that's perfect for filling pots on a budget. It's a go-to for cottage garden devotees, but it can also lend an expensive feel to any garden container. Happy planting!
With its ability to easily propagate and quick growth rate, the Mexican fleabane (Erigeron) is an ideal choice for those looking to fill home-and-garden pots on a budget. By pulling an outer section of the plant and placing it in water, you can create more plants to fill your pots with a profusion of blooms, transforming your lifestyle with a cost-effective and beautiful home-and-garden makeover.
