Andrew Chick Ecology

Mexican Fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus) is a daisy-like plant originally native to Mexico and Central America but now widely naturalised in parts of the UK, particularly in the south and west. Introduced as a garden ornamental, it has escaped cultivation and is increasingly seen thriving in cracks in old walls, pavements, and coastal stonework, where its trailing habit and abundant pink-tinged white flowers create a distinctive display from late spring into autumn. Favouring warm, well-drained niches, it is especially common in historic towns and coastal settlements such as Cornwall and parts of Wales. Although not native, it is not generally considered invasive and often adds character to urban and semi-natural habitats, where it attracts bees and other pollinators.

The header image and the picture below were taken in Ulverston, Cumbria in July 2025 where I believe it was a first record for the local area.

This is still a scarce plant in Cumbria, with the distribution shown at https://www.cumbriabotany.co.uk/the-flora-of-cumbria-recording-group/flora-distribution-maps/#Erigeron_karvinskianus

The following images were taken at Kew Gardens, where it is a very common species!