Join / Renew / Gift Donate Shop Member Portal Language

Search
npsot_bluebonnet_full_color

Native Plant Society of Texas

Blue Mistflower

Conoclinium coelestinum

Other common name(s):

Blue Boneset, Wild Ageratum

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Llano Uplift
Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

.75
to
3
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Calcareous, Moist

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Blue

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Bees

Maintenance

Low maintenance. Spreads by rhizomes so give lots of room. Roots are shallow and easy to pull out if thinning is needed to fit garden space. Good as a border plant or fill space in front of taller plants. Prefers woodland margins, stream banks, wet meadows. Tolerates poor drainage. Can grow in full sunlight with extra water, but does better if shaded in the afternoon in the heat of summer. Can be grown in container gardens. Propagation: seed, root division.

Comments

Blooms July-November. Stems are usually erect, with somewhat triangular, bluntly toothed leaves. Fluffy-edged light blue flowers, grow in flat top clusters at the end of stems. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Eupatorium coelestinum

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=COCO13. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Conoclinium+coelestinum&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=2628&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt. 6) Wasowski, Sally and Andy, 1991, Native Texas Plants, Landscaping Region by Region, pg 188. 7) Nokes, Jill, 2001, How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest, pg 266., 8) https://seedsource.com/blue-mistflower/

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Stratification Give them at least three weeks in 35°F (2°C). Then sow them on clean, moist soil and press seeds into the soil surface so they have good soil contact, but don’t bury them. Keep the seeds warm and lightly moist until they germinate in approximately one to two weeks. Alternatively, sow them outdoors in fall in areas with substantial winters. If sowing the seeds indoors, transplant the seedlings to a protected outdoor location once the weather has warmed and continue to keep them moist. When the seedlings are several inches tall, transplant them to their permanent location. Seeds started in early spring are capable of blooming by the fall of their first year. If they don’t have enough time to bloom in their first year, they will certainly bloom in their second year of growth. Seeds can be allowed to dry out before sowing. 1) https://www.epicgardening.com/blue-mistflower/ 2) https://www.joyfulbutterfly.com/product/blue-mistflower-seeds-conoclinium-coelestinum/#:~:text=How%20to%20Start%20Blue%20Mistflower,a%20mature%20plant%20to%20propagate.
Stem Cutting Remove any leaves from the lower third to half of the stem, leaving a few pairs of healthy leaves at the top. Place the cutting into a cup of water so the bare stem (not the leaves) is submerged. Most of your stem cuttings should form roots within a few weeks, and these successful cuttings can then be transplanted into pots or permanent in-ground locations. Take a four to six-inch cutting from a fresh, healthy stem. https://www.epicgardening.com/blue-mistflower/
Clump Division Examine the clump for natural divisions, using your fingers or a sharp knife to separate the blue mistflower into smaller sections. Each section should have a good amount of roots and some top groLook over the roots of each division, trimming away any that are damaged or dead. Aim to create a compact, healthy root system that will establish quickly when replanted. wth. Plant each division at the same depth it was growing at originally, spacing them appropriately for the expected size at maturity. Fill in around the roots with soil amended with compost, and firm the soil gently to remove air pockets. Water the new divisions thoroughly to settle the soil and ensure that there are no air gaps around the roots. The water also provides necessary hydration to help the roots recover and grow. Over the next few weeks, monitor the blue mistflower closely for signs of water stress or sun scorch, adjusting your care routine as necessary to encourage healthy growth. Carefully dig around the perimeter of the blue mistflower's clump, ensuring you are deep enough to avoid cutting through the root system. Gently lift the entire clump out of the ground. https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Conoclinium_coelestinum.html#:~:text=A%20sharp%20knife%20or%20pruning,Rooting%20hormone
Seed No Treatment Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment and fill plug trays within a few weeks. Seedlings grown in communal flats or multiple seedlings per plug can easily be barerooted for transplanting. Collect seeds when fruit tissue turns dark brown to grey and is dry; avoid collecting when fruits moist and do not dislodge easily from plant to ensure seed maturity. Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment and fill plug trays within a few weeks. Seedlings grown in communal flats or multiple seedlings per plug can easily be barerooted for transplanting. https://longleafpine.fnpschapters.org/data/uploads/propagation-manual-for-fl-panhandle-native-plants/conoclinum-coelestinum.pdf

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason