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Butterfly Gardening and Habitat Program

 
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Mistflower or Hardy Ageratum - Eupatorium coelestinum or Conoclinium coelestinum

 

While it can appear weedy early in the growing season, mistflower redeems itself in the fall. Fitting in both naturalistic gardens as well as gardens with a more formal design, the purple-blue flowers often last until frost. Clumps of plants form by underground rhizomes and mistflower can become aggressive if properly located but is easy to quickly pull out if need be.

Despite it's early season drawbacks, mistflower is easy to grow, blooms reliably and prolifically, and it's flower color shines beautifully in the lower fall sunlight.

Importance as a caterpillar food source: Mistflower is not used as a caterpillar host plant

Importance as a butterfly nectar source: A great source of late season nectar for a variety of butterflies.

The current rating for mistflower is:

Garden Rating
Nectar Rating
Caterpillar Rating
3
3
0

If you have experience growing mistflower, we would like your opinion. Let us know how it performed in your butterfly garden. Your comments will help other butterfly gardeners in your region to create better butterfly gardens:

Mistflower Cultural Requirements
USDA Hardiness Zone
5 to 10
Bloom Period
August to October
Bloom Color
Blue
Plant Height
18 to 36 inches
Plant Spread
18 to36 inches
Light Exposure
Full sun to light shade
Soil Moisture
Moist to wet
Animal/Disease Problems
None
 

 

 

 
 

 

Fall blooming Mistflower


 

Native Range for Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)
 
 
     

 

©2008 North American Butterfly Association