Erigeron Karvinskianus Fleabane ‘Santa Barbara/Mexican Daisy'

Santa Barbara Daisy | Erigeron karvinskianus | Mexican Fleabane | Erigeron ‘Santa Barbara’

Santa Barbara Daisy is a charming, sun-loving herbaceous perennial prized for its spectacular, continuous profusion of dainty, daisy-like flowers that open crisp white and gracefully age to soft pink and pale purple, blooming prolifically from late spring all the way until the first frost. This exceptionally tough, heat-tolerant selection is known for its sprawling, trailing habit and finely textured, deeply lobed dark green foliage. Its nectar-rich blossoms are an absolute magnet for bees and butterflies, making it a spectacular, low-maintenance spiller and filler for sunny landscape borders, rock gardens, cascading over retaining walls, and in mixed patio containers. With its soft, multi-toned color and reliable performance through challenging, dry conditions, Santa Barbara Daisy offers an extraordinary display of delicate summer blooms with exceptionally straightforward care.

Growing Santa Barbara Daisy

Light: Full sun to partial shade; thrives in bright, direct sunlight (at least 6 to 8 hours per day) to produce the most abundant blooms and maintain a tight, densely trailing form. It will comfortably tolerate light dappled shade, especially in climates with intense, hot afternoons.

Soil: Light, sandy, or rocky, well-drained soil; highly adaptable to poor or average soils as long as drainage is excellent. It is extremely susceptible to root rot in heavy, waterlogged clay, especially during the cold, wet winter months.

Water: Low to moderate; water regularly until established, then allow the top few inches of soil to dry out completely between waterings. It is exceptionally drought-tolerant once mature and strongly dislikes consistently wet feet.

Maintenance: Exceptionally low maintenance. Lightly shear the plant back in mid-summer if it becomes unwieldy or extends out of bounds to encourage a fresh, dense flush of foliage and a renewed wave of blooms. In frost-free zones, prune hard in late winter to maintain its shape and encourage vigorous new growth.

Wildlife: Highly attractive to bees and butterflies; naturally deer- and rabbit-resistant.

Hardiness: Perennial in USDA zones 6–9; widely grown as a spectacular, fast-growing summer annual or container plant in all cooler regions, and will often gracefully self-seed in the garden.

Shipping Info

Santa Barbara Daisy plants are shipped as healthy young starts in 4" nursery pots. Allow 1–2 weeks after arrival for plants to recover from shipping and resume active growth before repotting or planting outdoors.