Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Erigeron philadelphicus, the Philadelphia fleabane, is a widespread North American plant in the daisy family. Also known as common fleabane, daisy fleabane, frost-root, marsh fleabane, poor robin's plantain, skervish, and in the British Isles as robin's-plantain. It is native to North America and found there in nearly all of the United States and Canada. It is also introduced into Europe and Asia, considered an invasive weed in many places. Erigeron philadelphicus is a herbaceous plant with alternate, simple leaves, on hairy stems. The flower heads are borne in spring in arrays of as many as 35 heads. Each head may sometimes contain as many as 400 pink or white ray florets surrounding numerous yellow disc florets. The blooms are less than one inch (2. 5 cm) in diameter. The stem is hairy with rough hairs. The middle to lower leaves are heart shaped, and the plant is about 0. 5-2. 5 ft (15-76 cm) tall. Its active growth period is from spring to summer (April to July). This plant grows on roadsides, in fields, in thickets, and in open woods.

Plant type

Annual herb, Perennial herb

Size

2 - 8 ft Tall

Form

Upright

Growth rate

Moderate

Calscape icon
Color

White, Yellow

Flowering season

Spring

Soil description

Prefers loamy or clay soils. Grows poorly in sandy soils.

Plant communities

Chaparral, Foothill Woodland, Valley Grassland, Wetland-Riparian, Yellow Pine Forest

Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 12 likely

Confirmed Likely