I’m thinking of lining my drive with Mexican fleabane. It would be sunny and poor soil where I’m thinking. I would try it from seed if it’s foolproof, but I’m generally not great growing from seed. Has anyone tried, and what is it like?
I have it in many locations in my garden. It self seeds readily, growing in borders, paving and walls, in poor sandy soil, in sun and in shade. An easy grower!
I've never consciously grown it from seed, but it seeds itself around. I suspect it *might* be one of those plants that puts itself where it wants to be and might be trickier to persuade to germinate where you want it - but I don't know that for sure. A pack of seeds wouldn't cost much for you to try it out though?
Thanks for the photos, gosh it is pretty. OK I’ll get seed, but I’ll look out for some plants to buy too and hope for a big display.
Just to add, I tried seeds a couple of of years ago, sowing those into a tray of gritty compost (as recommended on the packet) but found germination very poor - just a couple of plants. However once those were planted out, they happily established themselves and seedlings popped up elsewhere. So it's definitely worth trying seed - maybe half the packet in a tray/ rest where you want it to grow?
I started off with a few small plants @a1154. They are often available in the 3 for £10 section in my local garden centre. They also divide easily so you could buy a bigger plant and split it. Thereafter it will self seed where it likes, if you let it! I've found it in nearby block paving, walls and containers. Some may consider it invasive but I don't as I like it!
Like the others I've never grown it from seed, but it self-seeds very readily. If you find that it doesn't grow well from bought seed, it might mean that the seed is better fresh so you could buy one plant and collect seed to sow straight away when it flowers. Sun and poor, dry, well-drained soil are exactly what it likes, so it should do well for you.
I grew some from seed a number of years ago and now have plants in lots of places. It's lovely. I even have some in a hanging basket. This basket is on a north facing wall and stays there all year - the other annuals self seed in it. But the fleabane needs a trim in the autumn. A usefull plant.
Someone gave me a small plant about 3 years ago. It seems to seed itself very easily. I had about a dozen plants appear in a domed planter last year !
