Wayne Roderick Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus ‘Wayne Roderick’) is a beautiful California native perennial known for its rich lavender-purple, daisy-like flowers with golden-yellow centers and attractive green to blue-green foliage. This compact, spreading plant produces abundant blooms from spring through fall, bringing long-lasting color to garden borders, pathways, rock gardens, and coastal landscapes. It thrives in coastal conditions and is drought tolerant once established, although occasional summer water helps maintain healthy foliage and encourage continued flowering in warmer inland areas. Its colorful blooms also attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, making it a wonderful addition to a wildlife-friendly garden.

Quick care: Full sun to part shade • Low water once established • Well-drained soil • Lavender-purple flowers with golden centers • Evergreen, spreading groundcover. See the Plant Profile and Growing Conditions below for full details.

Plant Profile

• Plant Type: Evergreen perennial groundcover

• Mature Size: Approximately 6–12 inches tall and 18–24 inches wide

• Native Range: Selected cultivar of seaside daisy, a species native to coastal California and Oregon

• Flower Color: Deep lavender-purple to lavender-blue with golden-yellow centers

• Bloom Time: Spring through fall, especially with occasional deadheading and suitable growing conditions

• Foliage: Green to blue-green, spoon-shaped leaves forming a dense, evergreen mat

• Growth Habit: Compact, low-growing, spreading mound with flower stalks rising above the foliage

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun along the coast; partial shade, especially afternoon shade, in hotter inland areas

• Water: Low once established; occasional summer watering can support healthier growth and longer flowering

• Soil: Well-drained sandy, loamy, or rocky soil; avoid persistently waterlogged conditions

• USDA Zones: Approximately 7–10, depending on local conditions

• Drought Tolerant: Yes — once established, particularly in coastal gardens

• Maintenance: Low; remove faded flowers to encourage additional blooms and trim back tired foliage as needed. Divide plants periodically if the center becomes woody or sparse.

Planting Instructions

• Best Planting Time: Fall through spring in California, when temperatures are mild and seasonal rainfall helps plants establish

• Spacing: Plant approximately 18–24 inches apart for a spreading groundcover effect

• Planting Depth: Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and about twice as wide. Set the plant at the same depth it was growing in its nursery container

• Establishment Water: Water thoroughly after planting. Water regularly during establishment, allowing the soil to drain between waterings

• Long-Term Care: Gradually reduce watering as the plant establishes. Coastal plants generally need less supplemental water, while inland plants may benefit from afternoon shade and occasional deep summer watering. Avoid overwatering, and remove spent flower heads to encourage continued blooms.

Wildlife & Pollinators

• Attracts: Native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects

• Pollinator Value: Its abundant, daisy-like flowers provide nectar and pollen throughout an extended blooming season

• Wildlife Benefits: Supports pollinator populations and contributes to habitat diversity in native gardens

• Deer Resistant: Often considered deer resistant, although browsing may occur

• Garden Benefits: Excellent for coastal gardens, groundcover, pathway borders, rock gardens, containers, slopes, and low-water landscapes

• Notable: Selected by California horticulturist Wayne Roderick, this seaside daisy is valued for its darker purple flowers and compact, leafy growth habit. It is especially useful for adding long-lasting color to coastal and water-wise gardens. Pair it with native sages, yarrow, buckwheats, and other California perennials for a colorful, pollinator-friendly planting.