Bloomipedia
Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus)
Photo: Sinéad Tuttle-Lerner via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Philadelphia fleabane

Erigeron philadelphicus

Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Philadelphia fleabane is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 10 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

46states where USDA records it
10Bloomipedia state lists include it
27,408U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia

Quick look

Erigeron philadelphicus, the Philadelphia fleabane, is a species of flowering plant in the composite family (Asteraceae). Other common names include philadelphia daisy, common fleabane, daisy fleabane, frost-root, marsh fleabane, poor robin's plantain, skevish or skervish, and, in the British Isles, robin's-plantain, but all of these names are shared with other species of fleabanes (Erigeron).

  • It belongs to the Asteraceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a biennial, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 46 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Pennsylvania, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
  • In Maryland, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2.8 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 4,227 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #42 among the 190 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,099 research-grade sightings of it in Maryland, ranking #55 among the 189 flowers on our Maryland list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,830 research-grade sightings of it in Virginia, ranking #95 among the 189 flowers on our Virginia list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (7,558 records)
Bloom time in the 10 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
PennsylvaniaNativeApril–June4,227
MarylandNativeApril–May2,099
VirginiaNativeApril–May1,830
GeorgiaNativeMarch–May1,793
TennesseeNativeApril–May1,390
KentuckyNativeApril–May1,019
New JerseyNativeMay–June962
AlabamaNativeMarch–May928
MississippiNativeMarch–April461
DelawareNativefew records (43)156

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 8 of our 10 states.
See each state
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: S5, secure in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S5, secure in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe: S5, secure in Delaware. DE rare plants 2024
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alabama.
Mississippi
No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Mississippi.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: CO (S2), NV (S2), WY (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Erigeron speciosus (“Fleabane”), as toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records philadelphia fleabane in 46 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

Pennsylvania counties with USDA records: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Somerset, Susquehanna, Tioga, Venango, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, Wyoming, York.

Virginia counties with USDA records: Accomack, Albemarle, Amherst, Arlington, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Buckingham, Campbell, Chesapeake , Clarke, Craig, Dickenson, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Giles, Grayson, Greene, Hampton , Henrico, Henry, Isle of Wight, James City, King George, Lee, Loudoun, Montgomery, Newport News , Page, Powhatan, Prince William, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth, Surry, Tazewell, Virginia Beach , Warren, Washington, Wise, Wythe, York.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Philadelphia fleabane a medium shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.8 to 7.8 and winter lows down to -28 °F.

Shade tolerance
Medium
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
4.8 to 7.8
Minimum temperature tolerated
-28 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
110
Annual precipitation range
18 to 55 inches
Minimum root depth
10 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
High
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by
seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for ERPH. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 1411 counties across 44 states; the most are in Illinois (97), Minnesota (79), Indiana (78).

Other Erigeron on Bloomipedia (4): Seaside daisy, Daisy fleabane, Oakleaf fleabane, Wandering daisy.

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Sunflowers, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion.

More Pennsylvania flowers

White snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)

White snakeroot

Ageratina altissima

Native

🌼 Blooms in PA: August–October
Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Creeping thistle

Cirsium arvense

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in PA: June–July
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

Chicory

Cichorium intybus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in PA: June–October

Sources