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Summary
Duration	Perennial
Growth Habit	Forb/herb
U.S. Nativity	Native to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator	FAC, FACW
Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period	Summer
After Harvest Regrowth Rate	Slow
Bloat	None
C:N Ratio
Coppice Potential	No
Fall Conspicuous	Yes
Fire Resistant	No
Flower Color	Blue
Flower Conspicuous	No
Foliage Color	Green
Foliage Porosity Summer	Moderate
Foliage Porosity Winter	Moderate
Foliage Texture	Medium
Fruit/Seed Color
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	No
Growth Form	Single Crown
Growth Rate	Moderate
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet)
Height, Mature (feet)	3.2
Known Allelopath	No
Leaf Retention	No
Lifespan	Moderate
Low Growing Grass	No
Nitrogen Fixation
Resprout Ability	No
Shape and Orientation	Erect
Toxicity	None
Growth Requirements
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils	No
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils	Yes
Anaerobic Tolerance	Low
CaCO3 Tolerance	Medium
Cold Stratification Required	No
Drought Tolerance	Medium
Fertility Requirement	Medium
Fire Tolerance	Low
Frost Free Days, Minimum	170
Hedge Tolerance	None
Moisture Use	Medium
pH, Minimum	5.5
pH, Maximum	7.5
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum
Precipitation, Minimum	24
Precipitation, Maximum	60
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	14
Salinity Tolerance	None
Shade Tolerance	Tolerant
Temperature, Minimum (°F)	-13
Reproduction
Bloom Period	Summer
Commercial Availability	Routinely Available
Fruit/Seed Abundance	Medium
Fruit/Seed Period Begin	Summer
Fruit/Seed Period End	Fall
Fruit/Seed Persistence	No
Propagated by Bare Root	No
Propagated by Bulb	No
Propagated by Container	No
Propagated by Corm	No
Propagated by Cuttings	No
Propagated by Seed	Yes
Propagated by Sod	No
Propagated by Sprigs	Yes
Propagated by Tubers	No
Seed per Pound	1500000
Seed Spread Rate	Moderate
Seedling Vigor	Medium
Small Grain	No
Vegetative Spread Rate	None
Suitability/Use
Berry/Nut/Seed Product	No
Christmas Tree Product	No
Fodder Product	No
Fuelwood Product	None
Lumber Product	No
Naval Store Product	No
Nursery Stock Product	No
Palatable Browse Animal
Palatable Graze Animal	Low
Palatable Human	No
Post Product	No
Protein Potential
Pulpwood Product	No
Veneer Product	No

 

Kingdom  Plantae -- Plants

Subkingdom  Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants

Superdivision  Spermatophyta -- Seed plants

Division  Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants

Class  Magnoliopsida -- Dicotyledons

Subclass  Asteridae

Order  Asterales

Family  Asteraceae -- Aster family

Genus  Conoclinium DC. -- thoroughwort P

Species  Conoclinium coelestinum (L.) DC. -- blue mistflower P

 

Alternate Names

Eupatorium coelestinum L., wild ageratum

 

Uses

This plant is used mainly for landscape beautification.  It has potential for use in cultivated, garden situations, in naturalized prairie or meadow plantings, and along roadsides.

 

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

 

Weediness

This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, or state natural resource or agriculture department regarding its status and use.  Weed information is also available from the PLANTS Web site at plants.usda.gov.

 

Description

Sunflower Family (Asteraceae).  Mistflower is an erect (to 3 feet), rhizomatous perennial, often forming colonies.  It is a U.S. native.  The opposite leaves are oval-shaped, hairy, and have toothed edges.  The small flower heads are clustered at the top of the plant.  They are powder blue to violet and fluffy in appearance, similar to Ageratums used as garden bedding plants.  The tiny seeds are black, elongated, and have long white hairs attached to one end.

 

Adaptation and Distribution

Mistflower is adapted to most soil types, but is especially suited to heavy textured and to highly organic soils.  Natural stands are found on moist to wet sites, such as low woods, wet meadows, and ditches.  It grows best in full sun, but will tolerate light shade.

 

Blue mistflower is distributed throughout the eastern and midwest United States.  For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Website.

 

Establishment

A clean, firm seedbed is essential.  The site should be treated with a herbicide to control existing vegetation, tilled, cultipacked once or twice, and allowed to settle thoroughly before sowing.  Broadcast ½ to ¾ gram seed per 100 square feet (½ to ¾ lb/acre).  Bulk sowing rates usually need to be increased to allow for low purity values.  The seed can be mixed with sand or rice hulls to increase volume so that it will be easier to spread uniformly over the planting site.  Seed must remain on the soil surface because they are easily smothered when buried in the soil.  The seed will not germinate until the following spring, but will benefit from the cool, moist winter environment.

 

Management

Apply fertilizer according to soil test recommendations.  If not available, a rate of 3½ to 5½ oz/100 square feet (100 to 150 lbs/acre) of 13-13-13 should be applied after the seedlings are established and annually thereafter.  Stands can be mowed in the spring and early summer.  Later mowings should be delayed until the plants have set seed.

 

Control

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely.  Always read label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information.  USDA, NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named, and other products may be equally effective.

 

Prepared By & Species Coordinator:

USDA NRCS Jamie L. Whitten Plant Materials Center, Coffeeville, MS

 

Edited: 01Feb2002 JLK; 01jun06 jsp

 

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS Web site<https://plants.usda.gov> or the Plant Materials Program Web site <https://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov>

 

 

 

Attribution:  U.S. Department of Agriculture