Eupatorium coelestinum - Mist Flower/Hardy Ageratum
DESCRIPTION
Mist Flower/Hardy AgeratumEupatorium coelestinum
The fuzzy blue flowers of hardy ageratum top attractive red stems in late summer and early fall. Easy to grow, it naturalizes readily and works well as a filler or groundcover planting. Its brilliant blue flowers make a unique and long-lasting cut flower. In warmer zones and loose soils, plan for quite a bit of spreading.
BENEFITS
- Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and skippers
- Easy to grow, flowers from mid-summer into autumn
- Makes a great groundcover
- Attracts insects favored by birds
NATIVE INFO
Native Range
Low woods and moist meadows, stream banks, ditches, base of bluffs; New Jersey and Illinois, south to Texas and Florida
Map Credit: The Biota of North America
Map Key: Green (native), Teal (native, adventive), Blue (present), Yellow (present & rare), Red (extinct)
Interesting Facts
In addition to butterflies, late summer and fall blooming asteraceae species provide food for many insects, some of which are in turn food for insect-eating birds like Bluebirds, Orioles, Warblers and Red-wing Blackbirds.
GROWING TIPS
Mistflower is adapted to most soil types, but is especially suited to heavy soil rich in organic matter. Natural stands are found on moist to wet sites, such as low woods, wet meadows, and ditches. It grows best in full sun, but will tolerate light shade.