Wikimedia Commons
Asteraceae
Ageratum
Ageratum houstonianum
Politeness, lasting beauty, affection.
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Genus
- Ageratum
- Native to
- Mexico, Central America
- Bloom season
- Summer, Fall
- Type
- Annual
- Height
- 15–60 cm
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained
- Water
- Moderate
- Hardiness
- Annual everywhere
- Lifespan
- One season
Did you know
- The name comes from the Greek a- (not) and geras (old age), referring to the flowers' ability to keep their color for a remarkably long time.
- Also called 'floss flower' for the soft, fuzzy texture of its tightly clustered tufts that resemble pieces of dental floss or pom-poms.
- It's one of the few annuals that produces true blue flowers — most 'blue' annuals are actually purple.
- Butterflies, especially small skippers and hairstreaks, can't resist ageratum patches, and the flowers are also rich nectar sources for bees.
- Ageratum was a favorite of Victorian carpet-bedding designers who used its low mounding habit to create geometric flower-bed patterns.
Color meanings
Blue
Steady tenderness