Erigeron eiomerus

Erigeron leiomerus, is a small alpine perennial that forms very flowered mats from spring to autumn. Its flowers resemble large pale pink daisies with yellow centres. Its short stems bear wide, hairy, medium green leaves that persist through winter. This varirety can be used in rock gardens, slopes, and sunny borders. It is a plant that requires well-drained but rather rich soil, and it is also suited for coastal areas.

Erigeron leiomerus belongs to the botany family Asteraceae. It is a botanical species native to the western United States, particularly the Rocky Mountains, in alpine tundra and high-altitude coniferous forests, where it grows among rocky scree slopes created by landslides. It is a herbaceous perennial plant that is cold-resistant but sensitive to winter humidity. The plant, equipped with a woody taproot, develops into ramified clumps reaching 15 cm (6in) in height. Both leaves and stems are covered in hair. The leaves are thick, spatulate, slightly concave, 2-3 cm (1in) wide, and the stems are tinged with violet. The above-ground vegetation persists through winter. The plant begins to flower in May and the flowering continues until October. At the top of each stem, a head-like inflorescence appears, resembling a miniature daisy with a diameter of 2 cm (1in). Each head contains up to 60 slender florets, pale mauve pink in colour, surrounding a yellow centre composed of numerous yellow florets.

This montane Erigeron is a very pretty rock garden plant, suitable for troughs or flowering walls, which requires well-drained soil to withstand winter. However, it will be more floriferous if not lacking too much water in summer. It can be associated with other groundcover or cushion plants, such as aubrietas, basket of gold alyssums, or pasqueflowers, for example.