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Ageratum Plant Care Guide

Ageratum_houstonianum_'Blue_Mink'_(Compositae)_flowers

Ageratum (əˈɛrətəm/ A-gé-ra-tum),[1] (whiteweed in the USA), is a genus of 40[2] to 60 tropical and warm temperate flowering annuals and perennials from the family Asteraceae, tribe Eupatorieae. Most species are native to Central America and Mexico but four are native to the United States.[2]

They form tussocks or small hills. They grow to a height of 30 in. The opposite leaves are cordate or oval, hairy or tomentose. The margins are slightly toothed or serrate. The leaves form compact clusters.

The fluffy flowers are lavender-blue, pink, lilac, or white; and spread in small compound umbels. They give small, dry fruits.

Species

  • Ageratum arsenei
  • Ageratum candidum
  • Ageratum chortianum
  • Ageratum connatifolius
  • Ageratum conyzoides: Billy-Goatweed, Tropical Whiteweed, Mexican Ageratum
  • Ageratum corymbosum: Flattop Whiteweed, Butterfly Mist
    • Ageratum corymbosum f. album
    • Ageratum corymbosum f. euryphyllum
    • Ageratum corymbosum var. jaliscense
    • Ageratum corymbosum f. lactiflorum
    • Ageratum corymbosum var. longipetiolatum
    • Ageratum corymbosum var. subsetiferum
  • Ageratum elassocarpum
  • Ageratum ellepticum
  • Ageratum gaumeri
  • Ageratum guatemalense
  • Ageratum heterolepis
  • Ageratum hondurense
  • Ageratum houstonianum : Bluemink, Flossflower, Garden Ageratum, Blueweed).

    • Ageratum houstonianum var. angustatum
    • Ageratum houstonianum f. isochroum
    • Ageratum houstonianum f. luteum
    • Ageratum houstonianum var. muticescens
    • Ageratum houstonianum f. niveum
    • Ageratum houstonianum f. normale
    • Ageratum houstonianum var. typicum
    • Ageratum houstonianum f. versicolor
  • Ageratum iltisii

    • Ageratum latifolium var. galapageium
  • Ageratum littorale : Cape Sable Whiteweed

    • Ageratum littorale f. album
    • Ageratum littorale var. hondurense
    • Ageratum littorale f. setigerum
  • Ageratum lucidum
  • Ageratum lundellii
  • Ageratum maritimum

    • Ageratum maritimum f. calvum
  • Ageratum meridensis

    • Ageratum mexicanum var. majus
  • Ageratum molinae
  • Ageratum munaense

  • Ageratum nelsonii
  • Ageratum oliveri
  • Ageratum peckii
  • Ageratum perplexans
  • Ageratum platypodum
  • Ageratum radicans
  • Ageratum reedii
  • Ageratum rhytidophyllum
  • Ageratum riparium
  • Ageratum rugosum
  • Ageratum serratum
  • Ageratum sordidum
  • Ageratum stachyofolium
  • Ageratum standleyi
  • Ageratum tehuacanum
  • Ageratum tomentosum
  • Ageratum viscosum
  • Ageratum wendlandii
  • Ageratum wrightii

Segregate genera
The genus Paneroa consists of one species, Paneroa stachyofolia, native to Oaxaca, which was first described in Ageratum but which seems to be more closely related to Conoclinium and Fleischmannia.[9]

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Growing Ageratum Flower: How To Plant Ageratum

By Becca Badgett

Ageratum_houstonianum_blue

Blue flowers for the garden are sometimes difficult to grow. Choices are limited and most require a full sun location. Ageratum plants, with fluffy blue flowers, add the desirable blue color to your garden, even if it is partially shaded. Caring for ageratums is simple and easy, particularly for the beginning gardener.

The ageratum flower most commonly found in the garden is a hybrid, growing in a petite and compact form. When you learn how to plant ageratum and grow it successfully, you will always have a blue flower option for the bed or border.

What Is Ageratum?

For those new to flower gardening, you may be wondering “what is ageratum and how is it cultivated?” Ageratum houstonianum, a native of Mexico, is among the most commonly planted ageratum varieties. Ageratums offer soft, round, fluffy flowers in various shades of blue, pink or white—with blue being most common.

Ageratum plants grow from seed or from small seedlings sometimes found in garden centers. More than 60 cultivars of the blue ageratum flower are available, often reaching only 6 to 8 inches when fully grown. The wild ageratum is a taller specimen that reseeds abundantly, but most available seeds of the ageratum will be from hybrid types.

Popular varieties of the ageratum flowers offer a range of blue colors and include the following cultivars:

  • Hawaii’ – This type has blooms of a royal blue. It flowers early and is one of the most long lasting of the species.
  • Blue Mink’ – This cultivar has flowers in a powder blue color and reaches 12 inches in height.
  • Blue Danube’ – A variety that reaches just 6 to 8 inches and features blooms in a medium blue shade.

Pink and white blooming cultivars are available as well, but tend to wither early and take on a worn, brown look.

How to Plant Ageratum

Ageratum plants may be started from seed when the soil has warmed outside. Cover seeds lightly, as seeds of ageratum plants need sunlight to germinate. For an early start to blooms of the ageratum flower, start seeds indoors eight to 10 weeks before planting in the spring garden.

Caring for Ageratums

An annual and sometimes perennial flower, the ageratum flower blooms from spring until fall when receiving proper care. Caring for ageratums includes regular watering until the plant is established. Use warm water to irrigate the plant for a bounty of blue blooms.

You should also deadhead spent blooms as needed to encourage more flowers.

Growing and caring for ageratums is simple. Stick with the popular blue blooms of the ageratum, deadhead as needed and enjoy the simple blue flower in your garden this year.

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See Also …

How to Grow Ageratum

 

 

4 responses

  1. Mary Ann Martin

    Will they re seed themselves? Where can I buy them, especially perennial varieties?

    August 27, 2015 at 10:51 pm

  2. Pingback: Best 15 how to care for ageratum – lifefindall.com

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