When it comes to bedding plants for your landscape, you may overlook this common annual you’ll find at nearly any nursery. It’s not as flashy as brightly-colored petunias tumbling out of containers or the exquisite blooms of fuchsia, but ageratum is one of the most reliable, low-maintenance flowers you can grow. It’s also a plant that pollinators, especially butterflies, adore.
Known by its common name of flossflower because of its tiny, thread-like blooms, this plant flowers from spring to first frost. There are many varieties, ranging from mostly blues to purple, pink and white. Although different varieties range in height from 6 to 24 inches tall, most ageratum, especially hybrids, maintain a tidy, mounded shape that doesn’t require deadheading to keep it neat. Ageratum works well as a border plant or in mixed containers and is considered deer and rabbit resistant.
Ageratum doesn’t love super-hot weather, though some varieties do better than others in the heat, especially if you give it afternoon shade. In cooler climates, the plant blooms well into mid-fall. By late summer to early fall, when many other plants in your garden have faded, this plant will be covered in butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Sadly, when the first frost occurs, ageratum is done for the season. Occasionally, it will survive winters in zones 10 and 11 (find your zone here).
Plant Attributes
Common Name
Flossflower
Botanical Name
Ageratum houstonianum
Family
Asteraceae
Plant Type
Annual, sometimes perennial in zones 10 and 11
Mature Size
6 to 24 inches tall and wide
Sun Exposure
Full sun to light shade
Soil Type
Well-draining
Soil pH
Slightly acidic to neutral
Bloom Time
Spring, summer, fall
Flower Color
Blue, lavender, pink, white
Zones
Annual
Toxic To Pets
Yes
Ageratum Care
As a member of the aster family, ageratum is a low-maintenance plant that keeps blooming without deadheading, or snipping off faded blooms. It’s a sturdy plant that will bloom all season long if you water regularly and keep it fertilized.
Light
Ageratum prefers full sun, which is considered 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day. However, it may fade in the heat, so give it afternoon shade if you live in a hot climate.
Soil
Ageratum prefers moist, well-draining soil and does not do well in heavy soils. For best results, plant this flower in containers if you have clay.
Water
This annual has shallow roots so it may wilt if it’s allowed to get too dry. Keeping it slightly moist is ideal. However, don’t go overboard because the plant doesn’t like soggy feet and may develop root rot if the potting medium remains too wet.
Fertilizer
Ageratum benefits from regular fertilizing to keep the abundant flowers coming. Add a slow-release granular product at planting time, or use a water soluble type, per label instructions, when watering throughout the season.
Common Pests And Problems
Ageratum is generally pest and disease-free, though you may see aphids occasionally, which you can blast off with the garden hose. Make sure to provide good air circulation around plants in very humid climates to prevent powdery mildew. Although ageratum likes moisture, if kept too soggy, the plant may develop root rot.
Is Ageratum Toxic to Pets?
Yes, though it’s not likely to be an issue for most pets. “Ageratum is technically a toxic plant as it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids,” says Tina Wismer, DVM, senior Director of ASPCA Poison Control. “These alkaloids, when ingested over weeks to months, can cause liver disease in grazing animals. Dogs and cats do not eat enough, or for a long enough period of time, to develop these types of problems.” However, like any other plant material, ageratum can cause mild stomach upset if ingested, so keep this plant away from pets who like to nibble.
Types Of Ageratum Plants
‘Artist Blue’ has a deep violet-blue color and reaches 8 to 12 inches tall and wide. The ‘Artist’ series comes in other colors and all perform well in very hot climates.
‘Dondo Blue’ has intensely blue flowers and reaches up to 24 inches tall, making it a good addition to a cutting garden flower.
‘Red Flint’ has fuchsia blooms, maxing out at 24 inches tall.
‘Dondo White’ offers pure white blooms on a plant that reaches 24 inches tall, which also makes it a good cutting garden flower.
‘Monarch Magic’ has a spreading, trailing habit that looks amazing in baskets and window boxes; it’s especially loved by Monarch butterflies.
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