Blue Mistflower
Conoclinium coelestinum
Last reviewed: July 2026
Conoclinium coelestinum is a native wildflower blooming July through September across the eastern and central United States. This blue-flowered perennial attracts butterflies, bees, and moths to gardens and natural areas.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Blue Mistflower as toxic to livestock.
Light
part sun
Water
medium
Size
24"–36" H × 18"–24" W
Bloom
Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
AL, AR, DE, FL and 23 more states
Pollinators
butterflies, bees, moths
Deer
Resistant (per Prairie Moon Nursery)
Browse plants for this ecoregion
Blue mistflower is a native perennial that produces clusters of fluffy, powder-blue flowers from summer through early fall. This spreading plant forms colonies over time and provides reliable late-season color when many other flowers are fading. It thrives in partial sun with average moisture and goes dormant in winter.
Growing Blue Mistflower
Grow Blue Mistflower in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 24 to 36 inches tall and spread 18 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Blue Mistflower takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Spreads aggressively and can look weedy
- Dies back completely in winter leaving bare patches
- May be viewed as too wild or uncontrolled for formal landscapes
Wildlife value
The nectar-rich flowers are especially valuable for butterflies, including monarchs during fall migration. Bees and moths also frequent the blooms throughout the extended flowering period.
Common questions
- When does Blue Mistflower bloom?
- Blue Mistflower blooms from July through September, providing late-season nectar when many other native plants have finished flowering.
- What pollinators visit Conoclinium coelestinum?
- Blue Mistflower attracts butterflies, bees, and moths with its abundant nectar-rich flowers. It is particularly valuable for migrating monarch butterflies in late summer and fall.
- Where is Blue Mistflower native?
- This species is native to much of the eastern and central United States, from Texas and Florida north to Michigan and New York, and west to Kansas and Nebraska.
- What growing conditions does Blue Mistflower prefer?
- Blue Mistflower grows best in medium to moist soils and can tolerate full sun to partial shade. It naturally occurs in floodplains, wet meadows, and along stream banks.
- Is Blue Mistflower toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Blue Mistflower as toxic to livestock.
- Is Blue Mistflower HOA-friendly?
- Blue Mistflower takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Blue Mistflower? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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