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Ageratum corymbosum

Blue mist flower

The pretty blue flowers are magnets for male Queen butterflies. They’ll be flitting around this long-blooming plant from mid-summer into fall.

Shrub or perennial herb, the branches grow upright at first, then relax with height and age. Leaves are roughly lance-shaped with rounded teeth on the edges. Veins underneath are prominent. The plant has an overall sandpapery feel. The somewhat sticky heads contain tightly packed, bluish, tubular disk flowers. The branched blue styles protruding high above the flowers look like small brushes. Since the heads are closely clustered at the tips of stems, the flowers altogether have an ornamental effect. Seeds ripen at the base of the flowers and fall when dry.


QuickFacts Description Growth Forms: Perennial. Mature Height: 3 feet Predominant Flower Color: Blue Flowering Seasons: Summer Rainy Season (July - mid September), Fall (Octover - November) Gardening Planting Zone: Mini Oasis Water Use: Low - Moderate Exposure: Partial or Filtered Shade Hardy to: 15° - 20° F Planting Season: Spring (mid February - April), Fall (October - November) Growth Rate: Moderate Availability: Desert plant nurseries. In the Wild Habitat: Widespread in Mexican highlands. Native Range: Sonora to Zacatecas and the Valley of Mexico; New Mexico.

Landscape Use: Flower Garden, Swimming Pool Area, Butterfly Garden, Container Plant, Patio Area.

This tough ageratum is essential to a butterfly garden and mixes well with other butterfly plants of low stature, like ?New Gold? lantana and purple trailing lantana. Use blue mist flower in a container or a mixed summer/fall perennial planting with plants of moderate water needs. Plant near patios, pools and any areas where the plants and butterflies may be easily seen. The constant presence of Queen butterflies essentially doubles the color value of this plant!

Planting Tips: Plant from one-gallon containers in spring or fall. Use ordinary potting soil for containers, or improve desert soil by turning and adding a shovelful of sand (for drainage) and some compost or forest mulch (to help the soil hold water.) A few rocks placed next to the plant will help hold water and encourage roots to grow beneath them. Water immediately after planting.

Gardening Tips: Blue mist flower blooms best with at least a half a day of sun (preferably morning), and also does well in filtered light (such as the filtered light under a mesquite tree.) Established plants need water every week the first summer and then can go every two weeks the following year. They wilt noticeably when watering is needed. Prune mist flower hard in the spring (March) to encourage new growth. An occasional application of a bloom-type fertilizer during the growing season will enhance flowering.

Problems: In sunnier locations, blue mist flower may need water more frequently. Whiteflies are occasionally a problem. Protect from rabbits if at all possible.

Attracting Wildlife

Wildlife Attraction: Butterflies, Nectar food plant.
Wildlife Use: Nectar plant for butterflies, particularly for male Queens. Flowers contain an alkaloid which the male Queens ingest, sequester, and later release as an aphrodisiac to attract females.

Names

Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
Scientific Name (Genus species): Ageratum corymbosum
Pronounced adge-er-A-tum kor-im-BOW-sum “Corymbosum” loosely translated means “flat-topped cluster” a reference to the shape of the flower heads. People in Mexico call this plant “cielitos”—the diminutive of “ciel”, meaning “sky”or “heaven,” no doubt referring to the color of the flowers.
Common Names: Blue mist flower
Spanish Names: Cielitos
TradeName: ‘Butterfly Blue’

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