Erigeron ‘Canary Bird’

Here is an alpine plant, so well known in specialist alpine circles, that it may need little in way of an introduction, but I suspect few readers will know the true story of this plant’s introduction.

We have to go back to the year 1960 and that great “emporium” of alpine plants, Jack Drake’s Nursery at Inshriach, Aviemore.  The late John Lawson (the then business partner to Jack Drake) wrote,”we received seed of Erigeron aureus from a friend in the United States, Mrs. Birdie Pradavich. When the seed germinated and the plants eventually flowered, one seedling had a pale yellow flower.” This sterile form was eventually given the name Erigeron ‘Canary Bird’ and has stood the test of time, remaining one of the most popular of all alpine plants. It is totally hardy and this should come as no surprise as the mother plant (Erigeron aureus) can be found at soaring heights on Mount Rainier 4392m (14,411ft), a volcanic mountain in the Cascade Range, Washington State.

I can well recall offering plants whilst training at Jack Drake’s nursery, back in 1976, for £4.00 each and customers were limited to one per person at that stage! It has held this value ever since that day. I have never found it easy to propagate as the greatest challenge is to hold back its flowering potential and create some vegetative material from which cuttings can be taken. There lies a challenge to would be propagators. There are no difficulties with growing the plant. It should be planted in a trough, positioned in a sunny position and tucked in between small rocks. In order to aid establishment, I would remove a few buds in its first year, as there may be a danger that it will “flower itself to death”.

As far as propagation is concerned, as has already been mentioned, it is a sterile plant and will therefore set no seed. Established plants will produce tiny, non-flowering side shoots which can be detached with a scalpel and will readily root in a mix of washed sand and “Perlite”. The lemon-yellow coloured, daisy flowers are a delight and will reward the grower with an unceasing display of blooms throughout the late spring and summer. During the growing season I would recommend a good soaking, last thing at night, during dry spells and an occasional watering with tomato feed during the same period, to strengthen the plant. This will remain a classic alpine garden plant and is yet another cultivar raised by Jack Drake’s nursery to which we owe so much for their notable introductions.

Availability:  Slack Top Nurseries, www.slacktopnurseries.co.uk
Aberconwy Nursery, tel. 01492 580875