Blue mistflower
Conoclinium coelestinum

Family: Compositae

What it is like

Conoclinium coelestinum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.7 m (2ft 4in) by 0.7 m (2ft 4in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

Height (m): 0.7

Where it is found

Moist open woods especially edges and clearings, banks of lakes, rivers, creeks or ditches, moist meadows, wet prairies, sandy coastal wetlands, bottomlands, seeps, fields, roadsides and right-of ways.

Native Range: Central and southeastern United States, West Indies

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 3

A good ground cover with medium to high density growing at a fast rate. Recommended for habitat restoration within its native range, especially in wet soils. Plants are also used as Butterfly Nectar Plants, Cut Flowers, Accents or as part of a Grouping or Mass Planting. The flowers attract long-tongued bees, butterflies, and skippers. Other occasional visitors include short-tongued bees, various flies, moths, and beetles.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Ground Cover: Ground Cover

How it is grown

A herbaceous perennial with showy flowers. Prefers full sun to light shade, moist soil containing loam or silt. There should be sufficient organic material in the soil to retain moisture. Spread aggressively in moist open ground, otherwise it presents few problems. In some areas of the U.S., the species is considered to be a spreading weed. Drought tolerance is poor. Plants will grow in wet areas. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length.

Propagating it: Propagation is by seed or division of the rhizomes.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 6-10

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Blue mistflower, Hardy Ageratum

Synonyms

C. dichotomum Chapm. C. flaccidum Greene. C. nepetaefolium Greene. C. venulosum Greene. Eupatorium coelestinum L. Eupatorium deltifolium Raf. ex DC. [Invalid]. Eupatorium deltoideum steudel. Eupatorium violaceum Raf.