Plant this annual for its stunning purplish - blue blooms that seem all season long until frost .
mistflower is a classicgarden annualand one of thebest yearly for cut . Sometimes called a floss peak , it has playful , minor bloom that resemble tiny pommy - pommy covered with floss - like filaments . It also offer a rarified colour in the flower world : blue , perfect for patriotic plantings . Ageratum also follow in several shade of pink , purple , and white .
No matter the colouring , these bloom are very popular with pollinators . butterfly stroke enjoy visit these plants and drinking their sweet-flavored ambrosia . The industrial plant begin to bloom in late spring and keep the show going until the first frost . These rugged plants stand firm poor grease circumstance and are n’t often pasture by deer .
Tom McWilliam.
Where to Plant Ageratum
works mistflower in any patch with productive , well - drain soil with apH on the acid side(5.0 to 6.0 ) , and full sun for at least part of the daytime . If you hold out where summers get hot , a locating in partial shadowiness and shelter from the afternoon sunshine is acceptable . However , Conoclinium coelestinum should be establish in full Sunday in more northern locations .
The pompom - shaped bloom are eye - catchers in flower beds , borderline , androck gardens , as well as in pots , motley containers with other plants , and string up hoop . The consequence of the gamey color is even more stunning in mass plantings , but they are also tremendous fellow traveller plants to annuals in other complemental colors , such as salvia .
How and When to Plant Ageratum
Plant ageratum after thelast Robert Frost date . The young plants should be hardened off before planting them outside .
Conoclinium coelestinum etymon are shallow , so you do n’t need to dig a hole much recondite than the pot the seedling comes in . Space them 9 to 12 inches apart . Planting them too close together will lead to poor air circulation and nurture the spread of disease .
Ageratum Care Tips
Light
Conoclinium coelestinum grows infull sunor part subtlety . Keep in mind that with less Sunday exposure , the bloom might be less prolific , and the plant might become less heavyset and leggy .
Soil and Water
Conoclinium coelestinum should be planted in prolific dirt with good drainage . Water the plant regularly until they are established . They take about 1 inch of body of water per hebdomad .
Container plants require more frequent lachrymation — daily in hot summer weather .
Temperature and Humidity
Ageratums arewarm - time of year annuals ; inhuman is their enemy . If they are planted too early in the spring and a cold-blooded turn strike , the unseasoned plants are easy wiped out .
However , if you get early frosts at the last of the summertime , you’re able to extend their lifespan by covering the plants .
Fertilizer
Their extended bloom makes ageratums ponderous feeders . feed in - ground or potted plants with ageneral - purpose fertilizerabout once a month throughout the growing season .
The plants will usually permit you know when they require more intellectual nourishment ; they are quick to uprise yellow leaves when they lack nutrient .
Pruning
Ageratums are so floriferous and fast - grow that there is no need to deadhead drop bloom . The plant will chop-chop grow over them , which is one of the reasons it is considered a low - care annual .
Potting and Repotting Ageratum
With their compendious size , the plants also make excellentcontainer plants . utilize a well - draining potting soil and feed them with a slow - dismissal plant food .
Pests and Problems
When originate in a shady spot , plants may have more issues with foliar disease , such as powdery mold . Powdery mold is most vulgar during soused , humid weather . as luck would have it , this wo n’t kill your plant ; it is in the first place unsightly . The best course of action is to keep plants dry and H2O at the pedestal while insure they have proper atmosphere circulation .
How to Propagate Ageratum
Garden centers betray these problematical small plant in multi - packs in the spring , but you may alsostart them from come indoorsfour to six weeks before your expected last freeze day .
Types of Ageratum
‘Artist’ Purple Ageratum
This hybrid ageratum has plentiful violet blooms on small mounding plants with upright heat energy allowance . Another variety in the serial is ' Artist ' Blue .
‘Blue Danube’ Ageratum
' Blue Danube ' bear lavender - blue flowersand grows only 8 inches marvellous .
‘Hawaii White’ Ageratum
' Hawaii White ' grows 6 - 8 inches improbable and has white flowers .
Ageratum Companion Plants
Salvia (Sage)
There are few gardens that do n’t have at least onesalviagrowing in them . Whether you have sunlight or shade , a dry garden , or lots of rainfall , there ’s an yearly salvia that you ’ll find essential . All attract hummingbirds , especially the red ace , and are with child pick for spicy , dry web site where you want dozens of colour all season . Most salvias do n’t care cool weather , so engraft them out of doors after all danger of hoarfrost has passed .
French Marigold
French marigoldshave frilly flower ; some boast a distinctive " cap optic . " They grow roughly 8–12 inches eminent with a chic , neat , little growth substance abuse and graceful dark unripe foliage . They do best in full sun with moist , well - drained soil and will blossom all summer long . They may reseed , returning year after year in speckle where they ’re felicitous .
Annual Vinca
one-year vincahas pretty pink , lavender , or cherry flush that look like tiny parasols . It endure a wide variety of term and dependably keeps blossom , whether the summertime is ironical or wet , hot or cold . It form a dandy container plant , or institute it in a bed or boundary line , group at least eight or more for skilful effect . Vinca withstands drouth but does salutary with moderate moisture . Another boon : yearly vinca tends to be " self - cleaning " and want little deadheading .
Garden Plans for Ageratum
English-Style Front-Yard Garden Plan
Give your home a welcoming feel with an exuberantEnglish - panache cottage gardenin the front yard .
Frequently Asked Questions
No , mistflower is an yearly whose life round ends with the onset of cold weather condition in the drop .
If the plants are in a sunny location and get fertilized on a regular basis , you may expect an extended bloom of youth from spring to fall .
Yes , the plants reseed themselves freely from tiny seed . If you do n’t require unpaid worker plants in your 1000 , remove the spend flowers before they can typeset seed although deadheading is not necessary for continued bloom .
Credit: Bob Stefko
Updated by Nadia Hassani
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Doug Hetherington
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
