"WILDLIFE WEDNESDAY"
"Blue Mistflower"
Scientific: Conoclinium coelestinum
Common: Blue Mistflower, Wild Ageratum, Mistflower
Blue Mistflower is native to the eastern part of the United States, from zones 5 – 9. Blount County Al was where this specimen was observed. Blount county and much of Northeast Al is in zone 7b (I may do a "Wildlife Wednesday" on hardiness zones. Often plants and animals stick to certain temperature/climatic zones). Mistflower is often found on sandy forest edges and creek banks. That makes Sand Mountain a perfect place for it to call home. It will grow to about 3 feet tall. It has triangular shaped leaves that are positioned opposite each other. The plant forms clusters of bright blue, violet, or white cone shaped flower heads that are about 1/4" long. The flowers appear from June - November. Once established, it spreads by underground rhizomes to quickly colonize large areas, leading some to consider it an invasive pest plant. A cold winter will kill it to the ground, but it comes back in the spring. Butterflies and bees are known to love this plant, visiting it in droves. It’s a nice addition to a native butterfly garden as a nectar plant.
Although the map shows this plant to not be present in Blount county, but these photos beg to differ. I am located very close to the Marshall county line where they are supposed to be present so I guess that is good enough for me.....
UNTIL NEXT WEEK
BE SAFE, BE CAREFUL, BEHAVE, DON'T DO ANYTHING ILLEGAL, IMMORAL, UNETHICAL, OR JUST PLAIN STUPID
No comments:
Post a Comment