Ageratum houstonianum

La ageratum — una anual compacta y redondeada con suaves pompones de flores esponjosas en azul, malva, rosa o blanco sobre un follaje verde fresco.
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Ageratum houstonianum — the floss flower

Ageratum houstonianum is the botanical name for the floss flower, a neat, mound-forming annual prized for its soft, powder-puff clusters of fluffy blue, mauve, pink or white blooms held just above fresh green foliage. It is the species behind our ageratum range within the flower seed collection.

History & origin

Native to Mexico and Central America, ageratum was taken up by gardeners for its rare, true-blue colouring — uncommon among bedding plants — and its tidy, long-flowering habit, becoming a classic edging and carpeting plant in formal summer displays.

The genus name Ageratum comes from the Greek for "not growing old," a reference to the long-lasting flowers, while the species epithet houstonianum honours the botanist and surgeon William Houstoun, who collected in Central America.

Botanical characteristics

A compact half-hardy annual, dwarf forms staying around 15-20 cm, it produces dense, brush-like flower heads in such profusion that the foliage all but disappears over a long summer season. Its low, even habit makes it ideal for edging and our ground-cover flowers, while the nectar-rich blooms draw butterflies and bees into our pollinator flowers.

Growing Ageratum houstonianum from seed

Sow under cover in early spring, pressing the fine seed onto the surface and not covering it, as light aids germination; keep warm and bright. Grow on frost-free and plant into full sun or light shade in moist, fertile soil after the last frost; deadhead or shear lightly to keep it flowering. Our flower growing guide and flower sowing calendar cover the timing.

Ready to grow floss flowers? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Ageratum · Annual Flowers · Ground-Cover Flowers · Pollinator Flowers · All Flower Seeds

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

¿Qué es Ageratum houstonianum?
Es el nombre botánico de la ageratum o flor de pelo, una ordenada planta anual de medio resistencia originaria de América Central, apreciada por sus inusuales cabezuelas esponjosas de color azul verdadero. ¿Cómo siembro la semilla de ageratum?
Siembra bajo cubierta a principios de primavera y presiona la fina semilla sobre la superficie sin cubrirla, ya que la luz favorece la germinación; mantén en un lugar cálido y luminoso. ¿Dónde queda mejor el ageratum?
Su porte bajo, uniforme y redondeado lo hace ideal para borduras, alfombrado y la parte delantera de arriate, tanto al sol pleno como a media sombra. ¿Cómo mantengo la floración?
Planta en suelo húmedo y fértil, y desflora o recorta ligeramente durante el verano para mantener la producción continua de sus esponjosas flores.