Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum): A Seasonal Look

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Tina

The first mistflower plant I ever grew was the Blue Mistflower, Conoclinium coelestinum.

Like Gregg’s Mistflower which I profiled in the most recent A Seasonal Look, this stunning native ground cover is a good autumn perennial to showcase for Texas Native Plant Week. I always think of this mistflower as the blue-headed step-child, especially in comparison to the more commonly grown Gregg’s Mistflower. Blue Mistflower is not as well-known or popular–not one of the cool kid plants, or at least that’s true here in the Austin area. I’m amazed at how few gardeners know about this lovely Texas ground cover.

Just as tough and hardy as its more admired cousin, it’s also a real looker. Pollinator gardening notwithstanding, the Blue Mistflower is my personal favorite. The deep purple-blue flowers,

…in all their puffy pulchritude,

…make me swoon!

I don’t think photos capture the depth of its color. You’ll just have to plant this beauty and see for yourself.

Interestingly, Blue Mistflower has a much wider range of distribution than the Gregg’s Mistflower. I follow several Northern garden bloggers who’ve planted this pretty, though I think it’s probably an annual or tender perennial in some of those places that experience true winter. Its native range is Texas to Florida, but also northward into Illinois and New Jersey (plenty of winter there!) and is grown in other parts of the U.S. as well.

I purchased a four-inch pot of Blue Mistflower for about $1.50 (I don’t remember exactly how much I spent, but it was very little) some 20 years ago. Over time, it filled in a back corner of my garden and put on a reliably gorgeous late summer/fall flower show every year. Eventually, that spot became…something. I never quite figured out the problem, but one spring, only about 10 sprigs returned. So I popped them out of that spot and into a another which receives a tiny bit full sun, but primarily dappled light, throughout the year.

The Blue Mistflower patch has thrived. With an almost identical growth and seasonal pattern as the Gregg’s, the zenith of its blooming occurs during September, October and into November. It is at its peak now.

As the autumn days shorten and cool, the blooms fade from deep blue-purple,

…to soft beige.

After the first hard freeze, the seed heads are wheat-colored and fragile. Like the Gregg’s, I’ve never experienced the Blue Mistflower seeding out, but if you’re so inclined, it’s at this point of the year that the seeds can be sowed.

I tend to leave the winter dormant plant alone until I can’t stand it anymore, then cut it back to not-much-of-anything, except for a light covering of Shumard Oak leaves.

You’ll notice the soaker hose which runs through the middle part of the Blue Mistflower plant. That one hose is generally enough for summer watering, although by hot August and especially if there’s been no precipitation, I sometimes hand water the Blue Mistflower because one hose doesn’t deliver enough moisture to cover all the roots of the entire group. I don’t want the Blue Mistflower to sulk, bloom less, and then cause me to miss out on its gorgeous blooms. I’m not the least bit selfish as a gardener, am I?

With the warmth of spring, the plant returns rapidly. If you look closely at the bottom of the photo, you can see the newly emerged spring growth in March.

Once spring has sprung, the form of the ground cover is firmly established.

While not much of a re-seeder in my garden, Blue Mistflower spreads by the roots. I keep it in bounds by weeding up the edges and passing along sprigs to other gardeners. As with the Gregg’s, I plant smaller evergreens like Iris and Purple Coneflower at the perimeter edges and I also have some container plants placed to visually enforce a stopping point and to give some winter interest. If this Blue Mistflower were planted in full sun, I would have more options for evergreen and structural plants, but this gardener plays the plant cards she’s dealt.

In summer, the foliage is thick and lush.

More than the Gregg’s, which has a comparably controlled growth habit, the Blue Mistflower is a straggler, stems growing wonky and wild over the course of its growing season and that’s especially noticeable once its purple, puffy, floral hats appear.

If you’re a neat-freak gardener you might not like this plant, but I find it casually charming.

Adding to its rangy behavior, Blue Mistflower also puts out stems taller than any of the Gregg’s–upwards of two feet or so.

The leaves of the Blue are triangular-shaped and a darker green shade contrasting with the palmate form and light green foliage of the Gregg’s,

Over the course of summer the foliage continues to grow and the perennial maintains itself as an unexciting, but generally handsome green ground cover, tolerant of heat and summer dry, and sporting the occasional bloom here or there.

In August and in tandem with the Gregg’s Mistflower–the fun begins with fuzzy-wuzzy blooming!!

While Tina the Gardener finds the flowers more alluring than those of the Gregg’s Mistflower, the same cannot be said about most pollinators. The Blue is a good pollinator plant, but not an excellent one, like the Gregg’s.

Monarchs like it just fine.

Honeybees tend to agree.

This Southern Oak Hairstreak, Satyrium favonius favonius, isn’t complaining about Blue Mistflower, either.

But I’ve never witnessed quite the variety of pollinator activity on the Blue Mistflower as on the Gregg’s. If you only have room for one, I’d suggest the Gregg’s, because the pollinators need all the help we can give them and the Gregg’s Mistflower is a Boss Pollinator Plant.

There is a fast flying and hardly landing tiny moth or skipper that I see each fall, flitting around the base of the plant, but it’s been a tough one to capture. I finally snagged a decent photo of one who perched (briefly!) for the camera.

I’ve also seen this one on the Gregg’s too, but it seems to prefer the Blue. I’m glad the Blue Mistflower has a committed pollinating pal.

Even though it’s not quite the power-house pollinator plant that some others are, Blue Mistflower still warms my heart and will always be welcome in my Texas garden!

As a whole and as an addition to a native plants/wildlife garden, Blue Mistflower is a terrific choice for anyone gardening in its range, who seeks a water-wise, attractive, hardy native ground cover that thrives–in both bloom and foliage–in sun or part-shade.

In Spring.

Summer.

Fall.

Winter.

Texas Native Plant Week: What’s Next?

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Tina

Congratulations! You’ve decided that you’ve had enough of your boring, sterile, wasteful, water-hogging, hydrocarbon-spewing, chemically dependent lawn. You’re going to remove some or all of it and plant a native plants garden!

Woohoo!!

Now what? Where do you go for information?

The thing about gardening that most folks don’t realize is that it is a region-specific endeavor. The way I garden here in Central Texas, and specifically in my part of Austin, is very different from how someone in Dallas, Texas, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, or Eugene, Oregon gardens. Gardening practices common in the Northeastern part of the U.S.do not work at all in Arizona. From temperature variations to soil considerations, appropriate plant choices and gardening practices are significantly more complicated than most people realize and require some level of knowledge and planning.

Our horticultural industry is partly (okay, largely) to blame for confusion in new gardeners: they want to sell me the same plant that they sell to a gardener in Maine, or northern California, or Florida, and it just doesn’t work. Or, probably it won’t work. Sure, there are some plants that transcend region, but few.

That’s one reason why using native plants is important. Native plants impart a sense of place–born and bred where they grow in nature, they belong to particular areas. Native plants thrive with regional temperature variations and soil complexities without help. Additionally, wildlife like insects, birds, and mammals of all sorts evolved in concert with their native plant hosts and food sources, and flock, buzz, and crawl to native plants for their sustenance and survival. Plants from “other places” cannot provide for wildlife like those that are biologically and evolutionary attuned to the nutritional and life requirements of endemic and migrating wildlife.

Gardens are more complex than a swath of green lawn and a few foundation plantings.

Where do you go to learn? Your locally owned nurseries and growers are often leaders in promoting the use of native plants. Visit and purchase from them in lieu of the big box nurseries which usually don’t sell native-to-region plants.

Most communities host a variety of garden organizations, including native plant societies, wildlife gardening groups, Master Naturalist and Master Gardener groups. Attend some meetings and ask questions; visit their plant sales and neighborhood plant swaps. For example, here in Austin we’re fortunate to enjoy an active Urban Habitat Steward program. One of those dedicated volunteers, Carleen Edgar, is hosting the Hancock Native Plant Swap, this coming Saturday, October 24th, from 8-9:30 am. The swap will be held at Mother’s Cafe & Garden, 4215 Duval Street, 78751. Carleen states:

At this swap, we will give away native (Antelope Horn) and Tropical milkweed seeds to all participants.

Here’s how it works:

Pot up and label some transplants, cuttings, or bring seeds
Set them in the appropriate area: Sun, Shade, Part Sun/Shade, or Water
Look around for plants that you would like or ask one of the experts (they will wear badges)
Take as many home as you brought

Many people just hang out talking about plants, helping others id mystery plants, and generally enjoying their coffee, free doughnut holes, and all things gardening. Master Gardeners and NWF Habitat Stewards will also be there to assist with plant identification.

Our mission is to make all yards in our neighborhoods more beautiful and easier to maintain, while consuming less water…for free!

Isn’t that cool? Free plants and conversation about plants with knowledgeable volunteers AND coffee and doughnut holes!

Goodness, it doesn’t get much better than that!!

Another resource that newby (and experienced!) gardeners should utilize are the local County Extension Service offices and websites. Every county has one, or access to one. Look’em up on your friendly neighborhood computer and call with questions or log onto their websites for plant and gardening information. The agricultural extension offices are reasonable stops for information on appropriate native plants for specific areas.

One of the absolute best places to learn about the native plants of North America is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center website at www.wildflower.org. I’m fortunate to live in Austin, where this national treasure is located and I’ve been a member since the mid-1980’s. The LBJWC is a beautiful and inspiring set of gardens and a tremendously valuable resource about North American native plants. The plant database and Ask Mr. Smarty Plants are worthwhile sections on the website to bookmark and peruse as you undertake your native education.

The National Wildlife Federation’s website, www.nwf.org is another superb resource on plant, gardening and wildlife-related information. This organization provides directives for creating wildlife and/or pollinator gardens–most of which focus on using native plants. Like the Austin Urban Habitat Stewards mentioned previously, many communities have enthusiastic volunteers, ready, able and willing to teach those wanting to learn.

Finally, there are many active and experienced garden bloggers available, at the click of your mouse or the touch of your fingertips, just itching to teach you what to do and how to do it.

Ahem.

Whether you’re interested in native plants (hopefully!), or garden design, or want to learn about another’s path of transforming a landscape from lawn to living garden, complete with native plants and accompanying wildlife, there are many good garden bloggers writing on a regular basis in the gardening blogosphere. Obviously, it’s better if you read about gardening from your specific area of the gardening world, but there’s an incredible amount of valuable information available. Great gardening ideas, solutions to gardening problems, reviews of gardening literature–it’s out there, with free and easy access from experienced gardeners and with myriad interesting perspectives.

Finally, join with like-minded neighbors and friends, as that’s often the best way to learn and gardeners love to share advice—and plants!

Then grab your trowel or shovel and plant some natives in your garden!

Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii): A Seasonal Look

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Tina

It’s that time of year again: Monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, are migrating through Texas on their way to winter in Mexico. And what nectar delights do they partake of in their nutritional pit-stops? Many blooming things, but they prefer sipping from native flowers and high on a list of favorites is the Gregg’s Mistflower, Conoclinium greggii.

As part of the 2015 celebratory edition of Texas Native Plant Week, let’s take A Seasonal Look at this gorgeous native ground cover–friend to gardener and pollinator alike.

It’s October and even in my part-shade garden, the Gregg’s Mistflower blooms up in fuzzy, lavender-blue gorgeousness.

Mid-September through Mid-November hosts the peak flowering for this tough and lovely native Texas-to-Arizona plant. In its native range, Gregg’s Mistflower is perennial and acts as a ground cover in the garden, reaching a height of only about 12 inches during its blooming period and spreading to cover as much or little space as the gardener will tolerate or encourage.

A member of the Asteraceae family, the flowers are gorgeous, showy,

…and unusual. Additionally, they are constantly visited by many a pollinating critter.

Along with Monarchs,

…the Queen butterfly, Danaus gilippus, prefers Gregg’s Mistflower over other nectar choices.

I planted my G. Mistflower group from passed along sprigs with healthy roots attached, and have, in turned, gifted to other enthralled gardeners seeking beauty in botanic and pollinator form. The flowers are what most gardeners prize the Gregg’s for, but it is generally a no-fuss plant–it carries no disease problems and is a water-wise addition to any Texas-tough garden.

Once its flowering has peaked, the fuzzy blooms fade to a tawny beige.

I find the spent blooms quite attractive and I have witnessed finches sneaking snacks from the seed heads.

After the first hard freeze and subsequent foliage drop, the color of the spent blooms lighten just a bit.

Through December and January, the seed heads become more fragile and begin dispersal. I’ve never experienced Gregg’s Mistflower re-seeding into other parts of my garden, or elsewhere for that matter. In my garden it spreads primarily by the roots in the immediate vicinity of the mother plant. Due to lazy-gardener syndrome, I usually leave the thin and fragile remains of Gregg’s Mistflower, seed heads and stems, mingling with the fallen foliage from deciduous trees through the course of winter.

I become serious about clean-up only upon arrival of the first spring growth.

Since Gregg’s Mistflower is dormant during winter, you might want to plant companions of non-native, but evergreen Iris, or native and evergreen Cedar Sage, Salvia roemeriana, Lyre-leaf Sage, Salvia lyrata, or Gulf Coast Penstemon, Penstemon tenuis–all which are spring bloomers–allowing for seasonal interest when Mistflower is dormant. Additionally, by planting evergreens along the edges where you want to limit the spread of Gregg’s Mistflower, you can give a sense of structure to the garden.

Once the warmer temperatures return and spring growth is well-underway, Gregg’s Mistflower grows quickly–adding plenty of filler foliage to augment spring’s beauty. It is a plant that requires some tidying around the edges so that it doesn’t insinuate itself too much out of its desired range, but is easily controlled by simply weeding out the wayward growth and passing along to other native plants gardeners!

The foliage is a stunning bright green and is lobed, or palmate, in shape.

Its other common names (aside from Gregg’s Mistflower) pay homage to the palmate foliage. Names like Palm-leaf Mistflower, Palm-leaf Thoroughwort, Purple Palmleaf Mistflower, Purple Palm Leaf Eupatorium are certainly descriptive, though I’m personally fond of the “Gregg’s”. Named after Josiah Gregg , who was one of the 19th century naturalists who traveled throughout Texas and catalogued plants (and other things as well), Gregg’s Mistflower is one of many plants named in his honor.

Gregg’s returns from dormancy rapidly and usually there are smatterings of blooms during spring and summer, but the real flower-power show begins in August, picking up blooming steam during September and October, with a slacking off as November strolls through the garden.

So pretty.

Gregg’s Mistflower is not only an excellent pollinator plant, but also the host plant for the Rawson’s Metalmark Butterfly, Calephelis rawsoni.

Gregg’s Mistflower grow and bloom best in full to part sun, but will take shade. In a garden that I once managed at Zilker Botanical Garden, one group of Gregg’s Mistflower grew in light shade–it received no direct sun throughout the day. The foliage was lanky, but still attractive, and the blooms appeared, less abundantly, but on schedule during the autumn months, just like its brethren growing in more sun. In decent soil, this hardy plant only takes about two years to cover a 4×4 foot area. With rockier soil or a shadier spot, the Gregg’s Mistflower covers a similar patch more slowly.

If you enjoy (snort!) deer visiting your garden, be aware that they’re likely to nibble your Mistflower, so if you can grow it in a spot where the ungulate beasties can’t get to the plant, you’ll be a satisfied gardener, even if you’re frustrating your deer visitors

Gregg’s Mistflower, Conoclinium greggii, is a plant that works in any Texas garden, sun or shade, rocky or clayey, formal or casual, and is coveted by pollinators and gardeners.

In Spring,