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You are here: Home / Plants / Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic / Ground Covers / Erigeron pulchellus (Robin’s Plantain)

Erigeron pulchellus (Robin’s Plantain)

Villous leaves of native Erigeron pulchellus basal rosettes.
Erigeron pulchellus (Robin's plantain) lavender buds and flowers in late March.
Erigeron pulchellus (Robin's plantain) in Bon Air Park's Quarry Shade Garden in April.
Erigeron pulchellus (Robin's plantain) buds and flowers in April.
Erigeron pulchellus (Robin's plantain) flowering plants in April.
Pappi of capillary bristles of native Erigeron pulchellus
Villous peduncle (.2–3' long) subtended by a bract of Erigeron pulchellus
Erigeron pulchellus 'Lynnhaven Carpet' (Robin's plantain) flowers in May.

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Native* to rocky or open woods, stream banks, and fields and favoring dappled sun, this Aster family member delights with charming composite flowers for three weeks from late March to May. It can naturalize to create colonies where its basal rosettes form a dense, year- round carpet in naturalistic gardens, flower borders, or rock gardens. Ground Cover Height: 11⁄2–2 feet Basal Rosette, Buds, Flowers, Seed Heads Spread: 11⁄2–2 feet Bloom Color: White, pink to lavender Characteristics Perennial with an unbranched (except for peduncles) stem rising from a basal rosette Rosettes of soft, hairy, paddle-shaped basal leaves; stem leaves sparse, alternating, clasping Loose terminal flower clusters with densely packed, thread-like ray florets surrounding central yellow disk florets late March to May Bullet-shaped cypselae with pappi of capillary bristles develop 2–3 weeks following blooms Self-seeding, spreads by stolons Attributes Tolerates drought, dry soil, heat, humidity; no serious pests or diseases; rabbits may browse; deer** occasionally severely damage Attracts bees, flies, butterflies, and skippers; larval host for some moths Growing and Maintenance Tips Soil Requirements: Well-drained Light Requirements: Partial Shade Water Requirements: Dry, Moist Good drainage essential, performs poorly in rich soils Excellent Replacement for Leucanthemum vulgare - Ox-eye Daisy Slow to germinate from seed so sow thickly Use in meadows or naturalized areas, as ground cover in borders or rock gardens *It is native to DC and to some MD and PA counties. In DE, it is common in the Piedmont but absent in the Coastal Plain. In VA, it is frequent in the mountains and Piedmont; infrequent in the Coastal Plain. In NoVA, it is not reported in Loudoun County. **‘Lynnhaven’s Carpet’ cultivar described as deer-resistant. Hardiness: USDA Zones 3–8 developed by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, serving Arlington and Alexandria Images by Mary Free (top right), Shade Garden, and by Elaine Mills, private garden, Arlington, and Glencarlyn Garden

Tried and True Native Plant Selections
 for the Mid-Atlantic

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Erigeron pulchellus (Robin’s Plantain)

Native* to rocky or open woods, stream banks, and fields and favoring dappled sun, this Aster family member delights with charming composite flowers for three weeks from late March to May. It can naturalize to create colonies where its basal rosettes form a dense, year-round carpet in naturalistic gardens, flower borders, or rock gardens.

*It is native to DC and to some MD and PA counties. In DE, it is common in the Piedmont but absent in the Coastal Plain. In VA, it is frequent in the mountains and Piedmont; infrequent in the Coastal Plain. In NoVA, it is not reported in Loudoun County.

Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic plants: 
Tried and True Native Plant Fact Sheets