Conoclinium (Eupatorium) coelestinum (Mistflower) Unity Grown

Commonly called mistflower, previously and incorrectly referred to in scientific literature as Eupatorium coelestinum, Conoclinium coelestinum is a late summer to fall blooming perennial native to large areas of the Eastern US. Growing in the wild as a dense ground cover, especially near bodies of water, mistflower is a vigorous spreader by rhizome and seed and produces violet-blue flowers with fuzzy tufts similar to that of closely related Eupatoriums.

Growing to one to three feet tall and wide, mistflower can be thinned in early spring to control spread in smaller sites. As a late summer and fall bloom, Conoclinium coelestinum is an important plant to late season pollinators, and produces beautiful, showy blooms in the process. Mistflower grows best in full sun to part shade and prefers consistently moist soil, though it will also tolerate seasonal flooding. Since it can spread a bit aggressively, mistflower may be best used in naturalized settings or in rain gardens where it has room to spread out. Taller plants may flop in summer, but can be cut back to maintain an upright shape.