Conoclinium coelestinum (Linnaeus) A.P. de Candolle. Common name: Mistflower, Ageratum. Phenology: Late Jul-Oct. Habitat: Streambanks, moist to wet disturbed areas, especially ditches, probably more common than formerly. Distribution: NJ west to IL, c. MO, se. KS, and OK, south to s. FL and c. TX; also in Cuba, and scattered farther north (as in NY, n. OH, and n. IN) probably as escapes from cultivation.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: See Wooten & Clewell (1971) for further discussion of this species.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Medford, Poindexter, & Weakley (2020) in Weakley et al (2020), Schilling et al (2019b); < Conoclinium coelestinum (L.) DC. – Ar, Fl7, FNA21, Il, K3, K4, Mi, NY, Ok, S, Tn, Va, WH3; < Conoclinum coelestinum – Pa, misspelling; < Eupatorium coelestinum L. – C, F, G, GrPl, NcTx, Oh3, RAB, SE1, Tx, W, WV
Links to other floras: < Conoclinium coelestinum - FNA21
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
- Great Plains: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Midwest: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Northcentral & Northeast: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.











Feedback
See something wrong or missing on about Conoclinium coelestinum? Let us know here: (Please include your name and email if at all complicated so we can clarify if needed.) We greatly appreciate feedback, and will include updates from you in our next webapp update, which can take a few months.
Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, rhizomatous and colonial perennial of floodplain forests, moist to wet meadows, old fields and other moist to wet disturbed areas, especially ditches.
Stems: Stems branched, sometimes tinged red, very hairy.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, petiolate, oval to triangular, to 4 in. long, with 3 main veins from the base, thin, blunt-toothed and hairy or smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) at ends of short branches, making a nearly flat terminal cluster (to 4 in. wide); heads blue to lavender and fuzzy appearing, consisting of tiny tubular florets (about 1/4 in. long) with protruding style branches.
Fruits:
Comments:
Height: 1-3 ft.
plant sale text: Blue mistflower or wild ageratum, formerly in the Eupatorium genus, attracts many butterflies, long-tongued bees and skippers! It is found growing in woodland edges and roadsides throughout Central and eastern US. It spreads by rhizomes and is perfect for naturalizing large spaces. To control its spread, try planting it in drier soils. Blue mistflower occasionally blooms until November, providing color late into fall.
bloom table text: Blue mistflower or wild ageratum, formerly in the Eupatorium genus, attracts many butterflies, long-tongued bees and skippers. It is found growing in woodland edges and roadsides throughout Central and Eastern US. It spreads by rhizomes and is perfect for naturalizing large spaces. To control its spread, try planting it in drier soils. Blue mistflower occasionally blooms until November, providing color late into fall.
description: Erect, rhizomatous and colonial perennial of floodplain forests, moist to wet meadows, old fields and other moist to wet disturbed areas, especially ditches.
stems: Stems branched, sometimes tinged red, very hairy.
leaves: Leaves opposite, petiolate, oval to triangular, to 4 in. long, with 3 main veins from the base, thin, blunt-toothed and hairy or smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Composite flowers (heads) at ends of short branches, making a nearly flat terminal cluster (to 4 in. wide); heads blue to lavender and fuzzy appearing, consisting of tiny tubular florets (about 1/4 in. long) with protruding style branches.
fruits:
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code: 2
native range: eastern United States