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Native alternative(s) for Conoclinium greggii:
Conoclinium coelestinum Flowers
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Eutrochium fistulosum Plant
Viola canadensis Viola canadensis
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea

Palmleaf Thoroughwort Conoclinium greggii

Previously known as:

  • Cococlinium dissectum
  • Eupatorium greggii
Phonetic Spelling
koh-no-KLY-nee-um GREG-ee-eye
Description

Palm-leaf Mistflower is an herbaceous perennial, North American wildflower in the daisy (Asteraceae) family that spreads by its rhizomes.  It is native to the southwest United States and typically found in locations with gravelly soil and full sun and growing along stream beds and overflow areas. It typically grows 12 to 18 inches tall and spreads to 24 inches wide or more. The plant has an erect to decumbent habit, often deeply lobed leaves and showy heads of deep lavender to light blue disk flowers with long threadlike stigmas. The plant's blue flowers have a misty appearance, hence the common name, and it blossoms from mid-summer to fall. The Latin species name 'greggii' was added to 23 species of plants by the American Botanical Society in honor of Josiah Gregg (1806-1850) who's exploration and horticultural findings were published as "Commerce of the Prairies".

Palm-leaf Mistflower does best in dry to medium moisture, well-drained loam in full sun, but tolerates partial shade. Plants can spread somewhat aggressively by rhizomes in optimum growing conditions.

Palm-leaf Mistflower is winter hardy to USDA zone 7, but where winters are cold it can be planted as an annual in a protected area or brought in as a container plant. It is also self-seeding, which makes it useful as a ground cover and can ensure year-to-year enjoyment. The mist flower that is native to the east will be better suited for North Carolina gardens. See this plant listed to the left.

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: 

No known diseases or insect pests. Can become weedy.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blue Mist'
'Blue Mist'
Tags:
#herbaceous perennial#groundcover#pollinator plant#annual#wildflower#herb garden#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blue Mist'
'Blue Mist'
Tags:
#herbaceous perennial#groundcover#pollinator plant#annual#wildflower#herb garden#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Conoclinium
    Species:
    greggii
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southwestern United States and northern Mexico
    Distribution:
    Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts Queen butterflies in the fall. Often eaten by deer.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Wildlife Food Source
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    Often incorrectly called an achene; the fruit is actually a cypsela.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Saucer
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    A fuzzy mass of cushion-like, disk shaped, blue flower heads that blossom from July through October.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    The compound leaves are deeply divided into three lobes. Those lobes are again dissected. Blades ovate-deltate to ovate, margins dissected or deeply lobed, apices pointed or rounded.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Erect stems often emerging from from knotty crowns.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Hanging Baskets
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Butterflies