ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum), photographi

How to Grow Ageratum

Ageratum houstonianum

Ageratum is an annual grown for its blooms, which open from spring through fall. Notably, it shrugs off deer and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies.

Ageratum — the short answer

Ageratum: full sun, pH 5.5–7, about 70 days to maturity.

Soil pH
5.5–7
We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.
Sun
Full Sun
We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.
Days to Maturity
70 days
We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.
Frost-kill temp (growing season)
32°F
We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

Plant data: Growable Ground Plant Database, compiled from FAO ECOCROP, USDA PLANTS and university Extension sources — each tile names its own row's source, because per-field provenance varies.

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Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether ageratum actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score ageratum against your land's real conditions.

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What Ageratum is

Ageratum grows as an annual and reaches around a foot and a half at maturity. It blooms from spring through fall. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.

Mature height, bloom period and container suitability: We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

How to grow Ageratum

Ageratum does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7, on well-drained ground. It needs around 800 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 60 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.

USDA Zones

Grown as an annual — see the growing season

Soil pH

5.5 - 7

We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

Sun

Full Sun

We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

Drainage

well (dry spells)

We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

Frost Kill Temperature

32°F

Where cold starts killing growing tissue. Not a winter-survival floor — a dormant perennial takes far colder, which its hardiness zone answers.

We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

Days to Maturity

70 days

We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

GDD Required

800+

Growing degree-days of accumulated warmth it needs to mature — humid summers reach this faster than cool coastal ones.

We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

Mature Height

1.5 ft

We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

Frost-Free Days

60+

The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.

Growable Ground plant catalog

  1. Start the season right

    Plant ageratum in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

  2. Match the soil

    Ageratum prefers pH 5.5 to 7. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet. A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.

  3. Water steadily

    Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.

  4. Harvest at its peak

    Cut ageratum blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.

Where Ageratum thrives

Whether ageratum thrives on a given site comes down to its soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost dates — the conditions that vary parcel to parcel.

Good to know

Ageratum offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

Your land is one point inside Ageratum's range

This page resolves to the species. Your state page draws the county line, and a report reads the parcel — the soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost dates on your exact ground, which no species average can see.

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See if Ageratum will thrive on your land

Zone averages are a start. Your soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether ageratum actually takes. We score it against the mapped and modelled conditions at your address.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

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How we know this about Ageratum

The figures above are cited per row, not per site: the pH band names this plant’s own source column, the three temperature figures each carry their own, and days-to-maturity cites the publication that actually lists it. All of it comes from the Growable Ground Plant Database — a compilation over FAO ECOCROP, USDA PLANTS, and university Extension sources, published openly with per-field provenance.

Grounded inUSDA PLANTS Database

Frequently asked questions

Can I grow Ageratum in my zone?

Ageratum is grown as an annual, so a hardiness zone does not decide it — its growing season follows your last and first frost dates. Soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.

When should you plant Ageratum?

Most growers plant ageratum after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 60-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.

How much sun does Ageratum need?

Ageratum needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.

What soil does Ageratum need?

Ageratum prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7, on well-drained ground. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet. Your report scores your parcel's mapped soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.

Does Ageratum attract pollinators?

Yes — ageratum's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.