Erigeron Karvinskianus

The_herpetologist

Just a quick question. Last year I bought a number of Erigeron Karvinskianus plants which did very well in my garden. They are doing OK and (touch wood) seem to be surviving the winter. When spring arrives do I just leave them as they are or do they need cutting back?
Thanks
HH

Hostafan1

I'd leave them alone, they're very happy that way.

raisingirl

Mine go through the winter mostly green but in the early spring, they die back. That's when I cut mine back - when they go brown and crispy, usually about March. I guess that may be because that's when we tend to get really cold weather here - late Feb/early March. By late April they are always green and thriving again

Lizzie27

I was wondering the same - one of mine has grown really big this year and is falling over a 3 high railway sleeper wall, nearly to the ground. 

Busy-Lizzie

I do the same as @raisingirl, cut them back in Spring. They will look horrid then before the new growth starts.

raisingirl

Lizzie27 said:

I was wondering the same - one of mine has grown really big this year and is falling over a 3 high railway sleeper wall, nearly to the ground. 

Yeah, wait a while. It'll be pretty obvious when you can do it.

Lizzie27

Thanks @raisingirl.

The_herpetologist

Just an update on this. I conducted an experiment; one EK i chopped back and the other I left as was. The cropped plant is growing back in a much denser way than the one I left, although both have good new growth. I think on balance, cutting back is the way to go in future.
Thanks for all the advice.
H