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Blue Mistflower

Conoclinium coelestinum

CommonPlant
Illustration of Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)

Blue Mistflower is a native wildflower that produces clouds of bright blue-violet blooms in late summer and autumn when most other flowers have faded. Often called wild ageratum, its fluffy flower heads are magnets for migrating butterflies and native bees seeking late-season nectar. It spreads vigorously through underground rhizomes and self-seeding, forming large colonies in moist sites.

Habitat
Stream banks, moist roadsides, forest edges, and wetland margins in the eastern and central United States
Diet
Nectar source for monarchs, swallowtails, and native bees in autumn migration
How common
Common

Best time to see a Blue Mistflower

The best time to see a Blue Mistflower is September–October, when about 66% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 39,023 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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