LucasLand

The Wildflowers

Mistflower

Conoclinium coelestinum

From North Creek Nurseries

Description
Able to draw the added beauty of the butterfly to the garden. This plant is excellent for providing cut flowers and can will naturalize, especially in wet areas. An added bonus is it's unique dark red stems. This interesting combination of flower and foliage make it a wonderful accent for silver leaved plants as well as red and yellow bloomers. Not only are the flowers attractive, they're edible too!
Culture
Found in low woods and moist meadows from New Jersey and Illinois down to Florida. Is quite tolerant of poorly drained soils, but will also do well in drier situations. Spreads by underground rhizomes. Eupatorium is most typically propagated by division but is just as easily transplanted. Division, as well as thinning should be done frequently to ensure vigorous growth and reduce spread. Cuttings may also be rooted. E. coelestinum would benefit from fertilization throughtout the growing season.
Additional Information
Eupatorium coelestinum, (Mist Flower, Hardy Ageratum) is a rhizomatous plant reaching from one to three feet (30cm - 1 m) tall and up to 1.5 feet (45 cm) wide. It can be invasive. I once grew this one and enjoyed it until it started to commandeer a bit more space than I wanted it to. It will grow in sun or part shade and is a nice filler for late summer color, if you have the space. It is hardy from USDA zones 6 to 10 and tolerates the hot, humid summers in southern states like Florida.