Wildflower Spotlight: What Is Fleabane?

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Here on Kowalski Mountain, we are blessed with an abundance of wildflowers! Fleabane is a common wildflower around the farm. It is often recognized as a weed. Some even call it a superweed that can defy the heavy weed killers used in commercial farming.  This native plant grows across much of the United States So what exactly is fleabane?

Fleabane is a member of the aster family. Each stem creates flower heads which are clusters of flowers that look like tiny, frilly daisies! 

Varieties of Fleabane

According to the USDA there are over 170 species in the United States and over 390 species worldwide. On our farm, we have identified two species, Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) and Philiadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus). Since the species are so similar it can be tough to tell the species apart. We use a plant app to discern the differences in species. Both species are commonly known as daisy fleabane throughout the US, likely due to their tiny daisy flowers. 

Fleabane thrives in disturbed areas, you likely have seen it in a traditional grass lawn nearby. The mature plants grow anywhere from 6 inches in height to 30 inches. Flower heads cover each plant. The tiny flowers have a center yellow disk surrounded by 100 to 150 thin petals called rays. The rays vary in color from white to hues of pink and purple. The entire flower is only about 1.5 to 3 cm in diameter. The flowers are open during the day but close at night. 

Friend to Pollinators

Fleabane is a friend to pollinators. Since the varieties of species bloom throughout much of the year: early spring into late fall, it’s a great source of nectar and pollen for pollinators of all kinds. Additionally, these wildflowers are host plants for various moths and butterflies. 

Uses of Fleabane

Native Americans have historically used fleabane in a variety of ways. Per its name, it was known as an insect repellent. People historically wore sachets to ward off a variety of insects. They would even place fleabane inside their mattresses and pillows to make for an insect-free night’s sleep. 

All parts of the plant are used for a variety of medicinal purposes. We recently packed a wound with flowers to stop the bleeding of a minor head wound. You can dry fleabane flowers, but fresh flowers are preferable. We were so impressed by how quickly this wound healed! This was a pretty deep gash that should have had two stitches. However, we butterflied the wound with some salve and within 6 days the wound was completely healed!

Useful Wildflower

Fleabane is not only pretty, but it’s also good for the bees and useful in a variety of medicinal ways. This native plant earns a place in our medicinal garden. Our goal is to transplant some of the medicinal herbs growing wild on the farm to a centralized garden. This accident was a classic example of how flowers seem to be everywhere until you need them! 

It’s also one of the native plants that produce beautiful frost flowers that come with the first hard freeze of winter. Just another reason to love this wildflower!

Be on the lookout for this beautiful wildflower in your neck of the woods!