Wild Ageratum Conoclinium coelestinum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Eupatorium coelestinum
- Phonetic Spelling
- koh-no-KLY-nee-um koh-el-ES-tee-num
- Description
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Commonly called mistflower, this late summer to fall-blooming herbaceous perennial is native to the Eastern United States. It looks like the annual ageratum and in that regard is sometimes commonly called hardy ageratum. It is a showy native plant that is considered a weed in the coastal plain, growing along roadsides on moist ditch banks. Under cultivation, it becomes a choice perennial with 8 weeks of blue flowers from late summer until frost. It is nectar-rich and pollinators love it.
This plant prefers moist humusy soils that do not dry out in full sun to partial shade areas. Purplish stems have toothed deltoid leaves. Blueish purple flowers are fluffy, tubular (to 1/ 2” across). Cut back taller plants in spring to prevent flopping. This is a great plant to consider for a wildflower garden or naturalized area, does especially well around pond borders as long as spreading roots will not affect other plants. It is not recommended for smaller planting areas as it spreads aggressively by its rhizomes and self-seeding. Propagate by clump division in early spring. This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Leaf miners and aphids may visit. This plant has some susceptibility to powdery mildew. Plants tend to flop and may need support. Spreading tendencies must be watched, particularly if planted in a perennial border.
Quick ID Hints:
- Erect herb with clusters of small heads of tubular flowers
- Flowers bluish-purple
- Leaves opposite, deltoidly ovate, crenately serrate
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Conoclinium
- Species:
- coelestinum
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Canada, Cuba, southeastern United States, NC
- Wildlife Value:
- The nectar-rich flowers are attractive to butterflies and other pollinators. Birds enjoy the seeds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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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:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Description:
- Displays from August to November
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Thistle like aster flowers that lack rays. It has numerous small, fluffy, tubular, blue-purple flowers (to 1/ 2” across) with discoid heads that bloom from July to October in dense flat topped terminal clusters (corymbs). In terminal, branched, clusters of small heads of 5 mm diam. bluish-purple, tubular. Blooms from July to October.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cuneate
- Deltoid
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Coarsely-toothed, ovate-deltoid leaves (to 3” long). The leaves are opposite and triangular. Opposite, simple, deltoidly-ovate, acute, broad cuneate to truncate, crenately-serrate, puberulent, lateral veins typically end in tooth.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Downy purplish stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy