Devon Daisies

[nightshade]

The part of Devon I love has white daisies which turn various shades of pink,
the grow around the kerbs, along the harbour, and in every sunny wall. I have asked repeatedly what they are and have been told Devon Daisies.
I finally found out they are an Erigeron known as Spanish Daisies (Erigeron karvinskianus), I have ordered some for my garden

[Dorts]

They are also very common in Cornwall, where I suppose the call them Cornish Daisies.)

The 'official' name for them now is Mexican Fleabane - Erigeron karvinskianus. I'm sure they originaly escaped from gardens and now as you say are very common on walls and roadsides in the West Country. I don't dislike them, they brighten-up many dull place, they seed very freely, so expect them to pop-up here and there!
Dorts.

[aeshna5]

I have seen them naturalised on occasions even in central London. A very cheerful plant which wouldn't grow for me!

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I have seen them naturalised on occasions even in central London. A very cheerful plant which wouldn't grow for me!

I've never managed to get this to grow for me either, although it is frequent pavement 'weed' in many of the surrounding streets.

I now have a potted specimen from a garden centre sitting on the patio in hope it will seed itself into some of the cracks.

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

I've never managed to get this to grow for me either, although it is frequent pavement 'weed' in many of the surrounding streets.

I now have a potted specimen from a garden centre sitting on the patio in hope it will seed itself into some of the cracks.

I agree, I tried to get it going while I was living in Cornwall, it grew everywhere but where I wanted it to.
I came to the conclusion it doesn't like being told what to do!
Dorts.

[Gill Catton]

I like this plant too, is it still utilised by insects as much do you think?

On a side note the only plant I've managed to get prolifically between my paving slabs was verbena bonariensis!! Not quite so welcome in such a location

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I like this plant too, is it still utilised by insects as much do you think?

I often see bees, hoverflies and such visiting it so I think fairly useful from that regard.

[nightshade]

I planted three in a well drained central border as they are good ground cover with a spreading habit. I have rarely seen them without insects in attendance but that is in sunny Devon.

[artdemole]

Saw a lot of these Sunday at Cheddar Gorge around the bridge and gardens at the bottom end.Very colorful they were.

[solus]

I fell in love with these when I saw them scrambling down the sides of steps and over walls and amongst paving in a number of National Trust gardens from the south west up to Cumbria, and I managed to buy 3 plants (on a 3 for 2 offer) last autumn. I planted one in a pot and two in a narrow strip of soil on either side of a step and they are still alive and flowering. I just hope they spread! All the large and inappropriate things I don't want growing there seed themselves merrily between paving slabs so..... ??

All I can say is they survived last winter when a lot of my less-than-fully-hardy plants didn't so I'm hoping they like it in my garden!