About Erigeron aureus Greene
Erigeron aureus Greene is a very small, short-lived herbaceous perennial. It reaches a maximum height of 10 cm (4 in), rarely growing up to 20 cm (8 in) tall. It forms tufts of hairy, grey-green leaves, and produces large, solitary yellow daisy-like flower heads that grow up to 2.5 cm (0.98 in) wide, which emerge in summer. This species is native to the Cascades and Rocky Mountains of northwestern North America, occurring in Alberta, British Columbia, and Washington. It grows in high mountain habitats on exposed ridges, rocky slopes, and in rock crevices. It is suitable for cultivation in a rockery, wall, or similar sunny, well-drained growing site. In the UK, it thrives in warmer western and southern coastal areas, and it is documented to be hardy down to −10 °C (14 °F). The cultivar 'Canary Bird', which is longer-lived than wild populations of the species, has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
