Isn’t this Ageratum stunning? Grown with love and harvested with care in order to avoid damaging the delicate petals.

Eternal youth

Ageratum is a member of the Asteraceae family. The Latin name means ‘ageless’, which you could interpret as ‘eternally young’. This probably refers to the long flowering period. Ageratum houstonianum is named after the physician and plant collector William Houston. The plant, which is also grown as a bedding plant, has a host of names, including blueweed, flossflower and Mexican paintbrush.

Did you know …

Ageratum has an unusual blue colour. The flowers appear to glow in the dark. Did you know that blue flowers symbolise innocence, space and eternity? It is also the colour of the Virgin Mary.

Availability & care

Ageratum is available almost all year round. The flowers are often used in bouquets. The usual care tips apply to Ageratum: trim the stems, remove the bottom leaves and place the flowers in clean water with cut flower food.

 

“The flowers are such a beautiful blue colour. You can even see them in the dark.”

Coloured

“When we plant Ageratum in the spring – small plants in plugs – I know that we’ll be able to harvest flowers in eight weeks’ time,” says Sjaak Burgmeijer, who grows flowers and ornamental shrubs. “Ideally I will harvest Ageratum when it’s fairly well coloured. That looks best.”

Just like people

“At the end of the day the plants can be drooping a bit,” says Sjaak Burgmeijer, who grows flowers and ornamental shrubs. “But they rest at night – just like people – in order to wake up refreshed in the morning.”

Growing

“We pot out the first plants at the end of March. If you cut them back, water them well and feed them, the plants grow well,” says Ageratum grower Jaap de Vreede. “And then you just have to wait for the flowers to appear.”

Beautiful blue

“The harvesting time is the best time,” says Ageratum grower Jaap de Vreede. “The flowers are such a beautiful blue colour. You can even see them in the dark.”