AGERATUM FLOWER VARIETIES - Plants Weekly

"Ageratum Flower Varieties" takes you through the many charming floss flower cultivars gardeners love, from soft powder blues to bright pinks and whites. In this video we look at Ageratum Artist Blue, Blue Horizon, Blue Mink, Hawaii Blue, Capri Blue, Pinky Improved, Red Sea, and Summer Snow, showing how each cultivar's flower color, height, and bloom form sets it apart. Ageratum's fuzzy, brush-like blooms are a favorite with butterflies and bees, making it a popular border and container plant in cottage-style and pollinator gardens. Ageratum houstonianum, commonly called floss flower, is native to Mexico and Central America, where it grows as a tender perennial though it's grown as a frost-sensitive annual almost everywhere else. It thrives in full sun to part shade, appreciating a little afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Plant it in rich, well-draining soil and keep the soil consistently moist — ageratum wilts quickly if it's allowed to dry out. It's hardy as an annual across USDA zones 2-11, but frost will kill the plants, so treat it as a warm-season bloomer from late spring through the first fall frost. A caution for pet owners and gardeners: ageratum contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids throughout the plant, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy in dogs and cats, and may lead to liver damage with repeated or large ingestions — livestock like horses and goats are especially at risk if they graze on it. The bitter taste usually keeps curious pets away, but it's best kept out of reach, and gloves are a good idea when planting or pruning. Whether you're filling in a border with easy-care color or looking for a pollinator-friendly annual, this video will help you identify and appreciate the full range of ageratum varieties available today. #ageratum #ageratumvarieties #flossflower