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:

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Notes From NABA Butterfly Gardeners:

Houston, TX reports that mistflower tends to blooms from June to early October, ending its bloom about the time that butterfly mistflower (Chromolaena odorata) comes into full bloom.

Madison, NJ reports that mistflower blooms for nearly a month in September and attracts a wide variety of Skippers.

Mistflower or Hardy Ageratum - Eupatorium coelestinum or Conoclinium coelestinum

While it can appearSkipper on Mistflower 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.

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
 

 


Native Range for Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)