Friday, May 27, 2011

Daisy Fleabane

Daisy Fleabane, Erigeron strigosus is a native annual wildflower. It's name came from the early Colonists belief that it repelled insects. They would use it to stuff mattress pads in an effort to keep away the bugs. It has been shown that it does not have any flea repelling qualities. In fact, it attracts a number of bees and other insects. Often dismissed as weeds because they are so ubiquitous around the US, they are actually quite a cheerful plant. The many petals are frequently used to pluck for a fortune telling round of "He loves me, he loves me not".

2 comments:

GardenOfDaisies said...

So pretty! I love any daisy-like flower.

Angela McRae said...

I have this growing in a shady spot in my backyard in Georgia and just love it, so I refuse to consider it a weed! (Don't believe I'll stuff my mattress with it though ...)