Blue Mistflower

Last year, this neat native wildflower started popping up in the Butterfly Garden, even though we’d never planted it. (Who do we thank? The birds? The wind? Who can say?) Although it looks like a small ageratum, it’s actually part of a different genus in the same family (Asteraceae). The botanical name is Conoclinium coelestinum; the genus name refers to the cone-shaped nodding flower heads while the species name means “sky blue”. The colors of the blooms can actually vary from white to lavender, and seem different on different days and in different lights.



Blue Mistflower is native to the eastern part of the United States, from zones 5 – 9. Once established, it spreads by underground rhizomes to quickly colonize large areas, leading some to consider it an invasive pest plant. A cold winter will kill it to the ground, but it comes back in the spring, blooming throughout the year.



Butterflies and bees are known to love this plant, visiting it in droves. It’s a nice addition to a native butterfly garden as a nectar plant, provided the garden isn’t overly formal. You can buy seeds for Blue Mistflower from the Florida Wildflower Growers Cooperative. Be aware that they require some cold to germinate properly, so for best results sow outside in the fall to take advantage of winter’s cooler, wetter weather. Another option is to store the seeds in the refrigerator for a few months before planting.

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Regardless of how the Blue Mistflower came to us, we’re glad to have it in the butterfly garden. This plant has been said to have medicinal properties in treating colds and coughs, so at some time in the future, we may try to establish some in the medicinal garden under the Clara Barton Redbud tree. In the meantime, find this wildflower on the MOSI grounds around the Wild Lime tree behind the Butterfly Flight Encounter enclosure.