Photo: jacilluchCC BY-SA 2.0via Wikimedia Commonsresized / cropped
Swamp Fleabane Plant Care
Pulicaria paludosa Link
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Pulicaria paludosa is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name Spanish false fleabane. It is native to Europe, particularly Spain and Portugal, and it is known as an introduced species in California, Arizona, and Clark County, Nevada, where it grows as a weed on roadsides, wetlands, riparian corridors, and other damp, disturbed areas. It is an annual, biennial, or perennial herb growing a few centimeters tall to well over a meter tall from a rhizomatous root system. The leaves are alternately arranged with blades in a variety of shapes from linear to oblong or oval. The herbage is coated in soft hairs. The inflorescence bears many flower heads. Each head has narrow, pointed, hairy phyllaries, a large dense center of many yellow disc florets, and a short fringe of many rectangular yellow ray florets, which are only about 2 millimeters long each. The fruit is an achene tipped with a pappus of bristles.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Swamp Fleabane?
Swamp Fleabane grows best in full sun to partial shade.
Where Is the Swamp Fleabane Native To?
- Albania
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- The Netherlands
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
What Is the Swamp Fleabane?
Swamp Fleabane (Pulicaria paludosa) belongs to the Asteraceae family within the Pulicaria genus. Swamp Fleabane is native to Europe, particularly Spain and Portugal, and. Swamp Fleabane is also known as Pulicaria paludosa.
Swamp Fleabane displays a low mounding perennial growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Swamp Fleabane produces small yellow daisy-like flowers in clusters.
What Light Does the Swamp Fleabane Need?
Swamp Fleabane thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Swamp Fleabane?
Well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Swamp Fleabane to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Swamp Fleabane?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Swamp Fleabane?
Swamp Fleabane can be propagated through seeds, division of root clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to arabic fleabane plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Swamp Fleabane Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Swamp Fleabane, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Swamp Fleabane?
Swamp Fleabane is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Swamp Fleabane is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Pulicaria genus — compare its care with other Pulicaria species on PlantoScan.
Pulicaria is part of the Asteraceae plant family — browse all Asteraceae genera and species.
Swamp Fleabane thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Pulicaria Species
Other Pulicaria species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Pulicaria paludosa Link, family Asteraceae (first published in Neues J. Bot. 1(3): 142 (1806)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Swamp Fleabane, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: jacilluch, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons — original.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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