Pocket BotanistPlant guide
Common fleabane.
Pulicaria dysenterica
Pronounced poo-li-KAIR-ee-uh dis-en-TER-ih-kuh
Also known as Common Fleabane, Fleabane, Meadow false fleabane
Common fleabane is a cheerful perennial that loves damp spots in the garden. It produces bright yellow, daisy like flowers that really draw in the pollinators. You will find it naturally growing in meadows and along stream banks.
At a glance
- Care level
- Easy
- Plant type
- Perennial herb
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Indoor light
- Direct sun
- Water
- Every 3 to 7 days
- Mature size
- 2 to 3 feet
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Hardiness
- USDA 5 to 9
- Bloom time
- Mid to late summer
Care
Keep the soil consistently moist to mimic its natural wetland habitat. Watch for wilting if the ground dries out too much during the heat of summer. It is a hardy plant that does not need much fussing.
- Watering
- Ensure the soil stays damp and never fully dries out.
- Feeding
- A light application of balanced fertilizer in spring is plenty.
- Pruning
- Cut the plant back to the ground after it finishes blooming in autumn.
- Repotting
- Divide the clumps every couple of years to keep the plant vigorous.
- Soil
- Moist, heavy clay or loam
- Soil pH
- Neutral to alkaline
- Temperature
- -15 to 35°C
- Humidity
- 40 to 80%
- Drought tolerance
- Low
- Lifespan
- Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.
- Deer and rabbits
- Moderate
Signs it needs repotting
- Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
- Stunted growth during the active season.
- Soil drying out too quickly.
Safety
- People
- All parts of the plant are considered mildly toxic if ingested.
- Children
- Keep this plant away from small children as ingestion may cause stomach upset.
- Contact allergens
- The foliage can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
- Airborne allergens
- The pollen may trigger mild allergic reactions in some people.
- Edibility
- This plant is not considered edible and has a history of medicinal use that should be avoided due to potential toxicity.
How to identify it
- Bright yellow daisy like flower heads
- Wrinkled, oblong, greyish green leaves
- Stems covered in soft, woolly hairs
- Grows in dense, spreading clumps
- Height
- 0.3 to 0.6m
- Spread
- 0.3 to 0.45m
- Leaves
- green, deciduous
- Flowers
- yellow, 2 to 3cm
Common problems
- Powdery mildew — A fungal infection that appears as white dust on the leaves during humid weather.
Growing it
- Propagation
- division, seed
- When to plant
- spring, autumn
- Overwintering
- Cut back the dead stems to the ground in late autumn. It is fully hardy and requires no special winter protection.
- In containers
- It grows well in large pots that can retain moisture, but it is best suited for garden beds.
Division
- 1. Dig up the clump in early spring.
- 2. Use a sharp spade to divide the root mass into smaller sections.
- 3. Replant immediately in moist, rich soil.
Seed
- 1. Collect seeds in late autumn.
- 2. Sow in trays of moist compost.
- 3. Keep in a cool, bright spot until germination.
Group this plant with other moisture loving perennials to create a self sustaining bog garden.
Grows well with
- Purple Loosestrife — They share a preference for damp, boggy soil conditions.
- Meadowsweet — This companion thrives in the same moist habitat and provides a nice textural contrast.
Similar species
- Common Fleabane — It shares a similar appearance but prefers drier soil.
Science
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Genus
- Pulicaria
- Order
- Asterales
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Native range
- Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa.
- Conservation
- This plant is common and not of conservation concern.
It naturally colonizes damp meadows and stream banks, providing essential late season nectar for insects.
- Value to wildlife
- nectar source
- Pollinators
- bees, butterflies, beetles
- Uses
- pollinator garden, wildlife meadow, wetland restoration
Through the year
Ecological indicators
- Salinity
- 2/9
- Soil reaction
- 6/9
- Light
- 7/9
- Temperature
- 5/9
- Moisture
- 8/9
- Nutrients
- 5/9
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Questions people ask
- Does it need a lot of water?
- Yes, it prefers consistently moist soil.
- Will it spread?
- It can spread by rhizomes and self seeding in ideal conditions.
Where the name comes from
The genus name Pulicaria comes from the Latin word for flea, as the plant was once burned to repel them. The species name dysenterica refers to its traditional use as a remedy for dysentery.
Good to know
- It thrives in damp, marshy ground where many other plants struggle.
- The bright yellow flowers look like miniature sunflowers.
- It is a member of the daisy family.
Is your common fleabane looking unwell?
This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.
This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.