Floss-flower

Ageratum houstonianum

Found in wet, disturbed areas. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Florida edition What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

Not native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height: 6 inches–1 foot
Spread: 10–12 inches
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Usually moist

See native alternatives

Ageratum houstonianum — bloom photograph — (c) Greg Tasney, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original photograph

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Similar growth form, height, spread
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At a glance

Life cycle: Annual
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: July to August

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Recorded in 13 Florida counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

13CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL

Genus host records with ranges including FL · Ageratum

Argyrogramma verrucaGolden Looper
Chloridea virescensTobacco Budworm Moth
Condica sutorThe Cobbler, Cobbler Groundling
Cyclophora nanariaDwarf Tawny Wave
Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
Pareuchaetes insulataYellow-Winged Pareuchaetes
Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
Trichoplusia niNi Moth, Cabbage Looper Moth

Show all 13

Udea rubigalisCelery Leaftier
Adaina bipunctatus
Anstenoptilia marmarodactyla

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Asteraceae
Hardiness: Zones 2a–11b
Flower color: Blue, pink or white

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “July to August” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Blue, pink or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Hardiness · “Zones 2a–11b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “6 inches–1 foot” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Annual” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “10–12 inches” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Floss flower

Conservation status

Florida rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
FL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources