On 17 Feb, 22:43, "Spider" wrote:
"Compo in Caithness" wrote in ...
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.

Also known as Mexican Fleabane.
David Hill