"Compo in Caithness" wrote in message
...
On 17 Feb, 21:40, "Spider" wrote:
"Compo in Caithness" wrote in
...

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/x...ss/Perennial.j...

I would like to know what this plant is, please. It was photographed
in the hills of Sintra in Portugal last October. It is hummocky and
bush-like but not very tall. I am thinking some sort of Anthemis but
not at all sure. I am growing a number of seedlings from it but it
may be years before it flowers.

It's Erigeron karvinskianus. It will flower very early on in its life.

Spider

By jingo I believe you are right! Just looked at Google images and
it looks about perfect. Many thanks Spider.


You're welcome! Alas, it was an all too brief reply because I had to go and
rescue my tea! :~)
As you have found, and Sacha confirms, it is the most charming of plants,
seeding itself about freely - but not too freely. It can look rather tatty
in winter, but don't cut it back until late spring, because that messy
sprawling hummock helps to shelter the crown of the plant. It is *fairly*
hardy where I am, but can suffer in bad winters. Don't be too keen to feed
it; it is far happier in poor soil. In fact, anywhere between a rock and a
hard place seems to suit it very well. In full sun and poorish soil it will
display its glorious 3-tone flower colours of white/pink/crimson all on one
plant. I have grown it in partial shade, however, where it has mainly white
flowers and makes a charming edge-of-woodland plant. Nevertheless, its
favoured home is in hungryish soil in lots of sun.


--
Spider
from high ground in SE London,
gardening on clay.