Ageratum houstonianum - Ageratum

Family:	Compositae
Habit:	Annual
Height:	0.3
Width:	0.3
Synonyms:	A. caeruleum. A. mexicanum.
Range:	South-western N. America - Mexico. An occasional garden escape in Britain[17].

Ageratum houstonianum (Ageratum) is a Annual which grows to a height of 0.3m and a width of 0.3m . It has a hardness rating of 8.
Ageratum will flower in December to April. the seeds ripen from February to April
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Lepidoptera

Soil Information

Ageratum will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Ageratum prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Ageratum should not be planted in shady areas.

Pine woods and cultivated ground[72].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge

Cultivation Details

Grows well in ordinary garden soil[200]. Requires a sheltered position in full sun[200]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]. A very ornamental plant[1], the flowers are very attractive to butterflies[30]. The removal of dead flowers will extend the flowering season.

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The juice of the plant is used externally to treat cuts and wounds[272].

• Anodyne - Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.

Propagation

Seed - surface sow March in a light position in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at 20°c[133]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out and plant them out after the last expected frosts.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Manual of the Southeastern Flora.
Small.
Author: Small.
Rating:
Publisher : Getting rather dated now, it covers Southeastern N. America. No pictures, it is not for the casual reader.
Date of Publication :

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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