Originally from Central and North America. The ageratum flower got its name from the Latin “ageratos”, which means “ageless”, but in our country its other name has taken root – “long-flowered”. This quite accurately describes the plant, because the flowering of ageratum begins in June and lasts until the first frost, and tall varieties, actively used in floristry, are able to maintain freshness when cut for a very long time without additional care.

Ageratum grows and branches well, so landscape design it is used to create hedges and borders, the branches and stems of which, intertwined, create a monolithic green fence. It is grown primarily for its fluffy flowers, reminiscent of pompoms, which are collected in dense inflorescences. The palette is most often shades of blue, but there are varieties of white, pink, red and burgundy; when planted en masse, it forms an almost continuous flowering “carpet.”

Ageratum is often planted along the edges of flowerbeds with zinnia, cosmos, cleome, verbena, where it will look bright as a beautiful lush spot. Ageratum also goes well with marigolds, evening primrose, balsams, calendula, snapdragon, asters and roses. It is often used to simulate a dry stream or pond in an area.

Advice! Together with marigolds, it is good to plant it at the roots clematis, they will create the coolness necessary for the clematis roots.

It is also used in single plantings; it will look especially impressive against the backdrop of a well-groomed, uniform green lawn. Low growing varieties ageratum tolerate growing in flowerpots well, so they are often used for decorating balconies, decorations patio, gazebos, recreation areas and entrance areas.

Ageratum: types and varieties

Despite the fact that ageratum is a perennial, in our climatic conditions it is grown as an annual. For the same reason, of the more than 50 different types of ageratum, only a few species can be grown.

Ageratum mexicanis

Another name is Houston's ageratum, a plant with numerous erect, highly branched stems, reaching a height (depending on the variety) from 10 to 50 cm. The leaves are oval, rhombic or oval, jagged along the edge, rough. The flowers are fragrant, narrow-tubular, small, collected in small (1-1.5 cm in diameter) inflorescences of the basket. In turn, these basket inflorescences are collected into complex corymbose inflorescences reaching up to 10 cm in diameter. Many varieties differ in shades of flowers, flowering times and bush height, the most popular are:

• Alba is a compact, only about 20 cm high, spherical bush with white dense inflorescences

• Blau Kappe is a low (20-30 cm) compact hemispherical bush with densely pubescent dark green shoots. The inflorescences are medium-sized (5-6 cm in diameter), loose, with short stigmas, lilac-blue. Late variety - flowering begins at the end of June and lasts until October

• Blausternchen is a very low (10-15 cm) compact bush with thin, densely pubescent, dark green shoots with a slight purple bloom. The inflorescences are few-flowered, loose, the baskets are small (up to 1 cm in diameter), blue with a characteristic lilac shade, in buds - dark purple. Early variety, flowering begins in early June and lasts until October, demanding watering

• Blue Mink is a low (25-30 cm) columnar compact bush with thick, weakly leafy, strong shoots. The inflorescences are large (up to 2.1 cm in diameter), dense, lilac-blue. Drought resistant. According to flowering time - medium grade, flowering begins in mid-June and continues until October.

Ageratum blue

Another name is “Blue Mink”, this variety received because of the specific shade of the flowers - pale blue, similar to mink fur. This is a low (up to 25 cm) bush with large (5-8 cm) inflorescences that cover the plant almost completely.

Description and features of ageratum

Belonging to the Astrov family, this ornamental plant presents gardeners with cute fluffy flowers, the dense inflorescences of which look like fragrant pompoms, filling the surrounding space with a pleasant smell.

Ageratum It is attractive for its ability to retain freshness for a long time after cutting. This quality, as well as the plant’s ability to bloom for a long period, formed the basis for the name of the flower, which is translated from Latin as “forever young.”

Externally the plant (as can be seen on photo of ageratum) has the appearance of a low bush, whose stems can be quite dwarf in size, but even taller ones do not exceed a length of 60 cm.

Its flowers delight the eye with a soothing blue or purple hue, but there are also varieties, varieties and hybrids that have pink, white and other, very diverse: colorful, unusual and unique shades.

The inflorescences-baskets extending from the stems are not particularly large, being no more than 5 cm in diameter. Depending on the type, they have an arbitrary shape and have different sizes, sometimes taking on the most bizarre unpredictable appearance and fantastic contours that betray ageratum flowers air volume.

The lush green leaves of the crop are oval and triangular in shape, and can also be diamond shapes, the edges of which have an uneven serrated structure.

In nature, such flowers grow in fertile and vegetation-rich areas of eastern India, Central and Latin America. This is a tropical and heat-loving representative of the flora, so the culture is not able to survive even the mildest winters.

Conditions for growing ageratum became the reason that this perennial (as it is in its homeland) is bred in Russia, given its climate, as an annual plant.

The flowers look great in flower beds and are very attractive as an element of the design of the surrounding landscape, delighting those around them with long-lasting (up to five months) flowering.

Among flower growers, this culture, which looks attractive and tempting, is quite in demand, since growing ageratum does not bring much trouble, and his decorative properties have multifaceted applications.

The plant is successfully used to create carpet compositions, often in combination with other crops, successfully filling empty spaces among perennial flora representatives. Flowers are also invaluable in the work of florists and designers.

Planting and propagation of ageratum

The cultivation of the described crop occurs mainly by planting seeds, but since the crop is heat-loving, it is not advisable to sow them directly into flower beds or garden plots.

How to sow ageratum? When the flowers ripen and turn brown, this is a sign that seed material can be collected from them. In the fruits of the plant, which have the shape of a wedge-shaped pentagon, numerous small seeds ripen, which retain their properties and are capable of successfully germinating over a four-year period when planted.

It is best to first sow them by mid-March in convenient containers or boxes filled with soil, the structure of which should consist of peat, sand and humus in approximately equal proportions.

At sowing ageratum The seeds should be sprinkled on top with a small layer of soil of the above composition. Cover the planting container with a transparent film or glass so that the sun's rays penetrate freely through this surface, creating a favorable microclimate inside.

In the resulting greenhouse for successful germination ageratum from seeds Regular ventilation should be provided and the temperature should be maintained at at least 15°C.

And the soil should always be slightly moist. Shoots appear after about a couple of weeks, and from this time the film covering the container or box can be removed.

At the moment when two pairs of leaves hatch at the seedlings, ageratum seedlings should be placed in a larger container, and then as the seedlings grow, it is better to transplant them into separate cups or pots.

A convenient time for watering seedlings is the morning. And a couple of weeks before ageratum planting to a flowerbed or garden plot, young plants should be hardened, gradually accustoming them to natural conditions on open air.

Ageratum into the soil it is transplanted when a stable above-zero temperature is established outside and the danger of night frosts disappears. The place for sowing should be sunny and protected from winds and dampness, and the soil on the site should be light, non-acidic and nutritious.

For planting, small holes are dug, spaced from one another at a distance of about 15 cm. If everything is done correctly, in a couple of months you will be able to watch the plant bloom.

Ageratum care

The plant is quite unpretentious, but loves watering, which, however, should not be too excessive. And after irrigating the soil with water, at the moment when the wet soil dries out a little, but still remains loose, weeding should be done. This significantly helps the growth of the plant, freeing it not only from weeds, but also the remnants of their root system, which is easily removed.

As a top dressing, produced twice a month, you can use mineral and gummed fertilizers, as well as mullein infusion, but fresh manure has a bad effect on ageratum. Care involves feeding, but you should remember that you don’t need to be zealous with them.

Excessive use of fertilizers promotes the growth of green parts of the crop, which interferes with the appearance of flowers. For a successful lush color, faded inflorescences must be removed in a timely manner, and the stems must be trimmed, leaving only some internodes.

When the autumn cold approaches, the area is cleared of the fading remains of a heat-loving plant, which is not able to tolerate even light frosts.

Successful bushes can be moved to a veranda or balcony, or left in the house, transplanted into flower pots so that such beauty will have the opportunity to remind of the past summer for some time.

And in the first days of spring, cuttings can be taken from the surviving bushes, which are suitable for planting in the garden in the new season. Very often this crop is specially bred on loggias and terraces, growing at home. Ageratum planted in boxes, flowerpots, tubs and floor vases.

The enemies of young shoots on verandas and greenhouses are often whiteflies and spider mites. To combat them, affected leaves are removed or treated with insecticides.

The crop gets sick quite often, but in order for the plant to successfully develop and grow, and its roots not to rot, it is better to select light soil for planting in advance and loosen the soil in the area so that the moisture is retained longer after watering. Often the crop is infected by bacteria, and the plant begins to wither, which is a consequence of poor care.

Lack of heat, sunlight and waterlogging of the soil can cause the disease - black leg. The consequence is rotting of the lower part of the stem. To get rid of such troubles, diseased plants have to be removed, and the remaining shoots must be sprayed with a solution of potassium permanganate at least once a week.

Types and varieties of ageratum

There are about six dozen species of this plant. Such diversity is distinguished by the individuality of each variety and its special unique beauty.

All of them are in demand in floriculture, and anyone can find their seeds in any flower shop, even the first one they come across. Varieties of the crop are divided into three types according to the size of the bushes. Tall ones reach a length of up to 60 cm; the stems of medium-sized plants are slightly lower; well, dwarf types generally grow no higher than 15 cm.

Ageratum mexicanis, actively used in garden design, is one of the most beloved and well-known species by gardeners. Plant varieties are usually distinguished by their blue range, but there are also red, pink, yellow and white shades.

This universal flowers, giving gardeners, florists and designers the opportunity to let their imaginations fly, which stimulates their creative impulses. This flora is widely used to compose a wide variety of compositions in bold combinations color ranges and bizarre shapes.

Low-growing bushes are perfect for decorating flower beds and borders. And tall ones are for original and colorful bouquets. Flowers create harmony and a wonderful mood when planted in vases and placed in the garden between bushes in the fall.

On the background blue ageratum Zinnias and marigolds, as well as plants such as heliopsis, rudbeckia and helenium, look great in flower beds with their red, yellow, orange and gold hues.

One of the varieties of the mentioned species is “White Ball”, which fits perfectly into impressive floral compositions. This compact, graceful plant grows to a very short height, so it is convenient for growing in boxes and vases.

Its densely drooping leaves appear voluminous. Stems are strong and straight. The inflorescences, about 2 cm in diameter, delight in their attractive snow-white color.

Ageratum mexicanis served as the basis for the creation by breeders of many interesting plant varieties of various types color solutions and qualities. These include the Alba variety - a hardy but rare plant with snow-white flowers with four petals.

This flora is characterized by abundant flowering, prefers nutritious soil and places covered with light shade. Flowers are used to decorate the banks of reservoirs, borders and rocky hills.

The “North Sea” hybrid, also bred from the mentioned species, pleases the eye with a rich dark purple color scheme. This crop tolerates haircuts well and recovers after it in a short time. A variety with white-blue flowers is Ageratum "Leda". Its coloring is amazing and original in that it seems to shimmer and shimmer.

Ageratum pink includes two varieties: fiery pink and pink ball. These plants are small in size and usually do not grow above 30 cm, but they are even more compact dwarf varieties ageratum.

Ageratum blue mink famous long flowering and amazing unpretentiousness. Externally, the plant is a neat compact bush up to 35 cm high.

The culture has fluffy blue inflorescences with a lilac tint, emitting pleasant aroma. This flora, starting its flowering in June, continues to delight with its beauty until autumn, decorating gardens, flower beds and flower beds with its bright, dense inflorescences.

The plant loves warmth and light, so it easily tolerates drought. But growing in the shade, it stretches out ugly, so open sunny areas are chosen for it. This crop also does not tolerate rocky and damp soils.

Anyone can create unique compositions using the mentioned plant material. winter bouquets. To do everything correctly and beautifully, flowers are cut from flower beds at a time when their buds have not yet fully blossomed. Then they are tied in bunches and hung with the inflorescences down to dry. Then they make up wonderful compositions.

An experienced landscape designer has hundreds of items at his disposal flowering plants, which can be used as border plantings. They perfectly frame flower beds and flower beds, decorate balconies and loggias, and plant greenery on terraces and verandas.

Mexican ageratum flowers (Ageratum) have been known for a long time and have gained well-deserved popularity due to their unusual appearance buds.

At the time of its flowering, it forms a dense covering layer. A flowering rug can decorate a space for a long period of time, because under suitable temperature conditions external environment buds are formed almost continuously.

Ageratum is a perennial plant, but in difficult climatic conditions it is grown as an annual because it does not tolerate cold, snowy winters.

Look at the photo of ageratum flowers grown in seedlings and used for various design purposes:

What attracts you to this bright representative of the southern flora? First of all, noteworthy is the flowering period, which when organizing proper care starts from the beginning of June and ends only after the first snow falls (in October - November).

This continuously flowering plant can be pruned repeatedly during the seasonal growing season, which allows the formation of various flower sculptures and borders.

The crop can also be used for growing in a flower bed, in a pot or container.

Popular rumor called the ageratum “long-flowered,” which echoes the translation from Latin “ageless.” Myths and legends tell that growing this flower helps improve health and achieve longevity.

It is recommended to have a pot of longflower in your home and office. Moreover, the plant can bloom almost continuously throughout the winter. Only a few specimens require a short period of rest from December to January.

The flower received the name Mexican not by chance; the fact is that the first species were discovered in Mexico. Then travelers brought similar specimens from Peru. Botanically, it belongs to the aster and evergreen family.

The full name of the culture is Ageratum Houstonian mexicanum; several varietal groups are known, differing only in the color of the buds.

The height of the stem does not exceed 50 cm. The most common species do not grow more than 20 cm in height, but at the same time they branch well, forming a lush bush within a short period of time after planting.

Look at the photo of the ageratum flower - you can see the characteristic structure of the petals, presented in the form of narrow rolled tubes. They exude a light but fairly persistent aroma.

The inflorescences are always collected in small baskets, which creates the impression of an elegant light ball. Overall size The inflorescences of one plant can reach a diameter of up to 10 cm. And when several such inflorescences bloom at once, they completely cover all the foliage, turning the bush into one large flowering ball.

The leaf has a diamond shape with jagged edges and a rich green color.

After flowering, wedge-shaped seeds with high germination capacity ripen. You can prepare them yourself, they give strong seedlings for 3 years from the date of collection.

Well, another portion of photos of ageratum flowers with various options their uses:

Growing ageratum from seeds with seedlings: planting and caring for the plant

The ageratum plant belongs to the heat-loving and light-loving species of flora, therefore for successful growth and development it is necessary heat ambient air and long daylight hours. It is useless to sow in February. It's also difficult to get positive result by sowing in the ground in May.

The only way to grow ageratum from seeds is seedlings, which must provide suitable conditions kept in room or greenhouse conditions.

Ageratum seedlings are not particularly whimsical and capricious; even with minimal care they grow strong and viable.

Sowing should be done in mid-March. To do this, prepare containers with a transparent lid, which can be glass or plastic film. Take 2 parts of turf soil, 1 part each of sand and peat (humus or compost).

Everything is thoroughly mixed, calcined in the oven and additionally disinfected with a pink solution of manganese.

The planting containers are filled with soil, the surface is slightly compacted and moistened with a spray bottle. Then the seeds are laid out on the surface, which need to be lightly pressed to the ground, but not allowed to cover them with soil.

For successful and friendly germination they need direct sunlight. The moistening procedure is repeated using a spray bottle. Then the container is covered with glass or plastic film.

Until germination, the pot should be kept on a well-lit windowsill, where the temperature does not drop below 20 degrees Celsius.

First shoots at proper organization germination appears after a week. During this time, daily drip irrigation(very careful) and ventilation for 30 minutes daily.

After all shoots have appeared, the film or glass is removed. The gradual development of seedlings begins.

In the phase of 2 true leaves, the first picking into separate peat pots is needed. After transplantation, feeding begins 2 weeks later mineral fertilizers with a predominant percentage of potassium and phosphorus.

The plant needs less nitrogen. The soil for picking should be nutritious and well structured.

Planting ageratum in open ground can only be done after the threat of return spring frosts has passed.

Before transplantation, the seedlings are hardened for 2 weeks. They begin to be taken out open air with a 15 minute “walk”. Gradually this time increases to 5-7 hours a day.

Subsequent care of the ageratum plant consists of regularly loosening the soil, since the fibrous root system it is located at a shallow depth and needs a constant supply of fresh air. The formation of a soil crust inhibits the growth of bushes and can lead to their death.

Watering is done 2 times a week, during heat and drought - daily. Application of mineral fertilizers - by root feeding combined with loosening and mulching of the soil.

These are the basic rules for planting and caring for ageratum in open ground conditions, in room conditions agricultural technology is different. In the future, propagation is possible by cuttings and rooting branches, dividing the uterine bush.

When landing on permanent place“residences” should be left between plants at a distance of at least 30 cm. Only in this case is full development possible. Flowering usually begins 2 months after emergence.

Varieties and colors of ageratum in the flowerbed: blue and blue, pink and white (with photo)

One of the first varieties at the disposal of collectors was the “blue mink” variety of ageratum - this plant had a pleasant shade of pastel blue color.

The variety was used mainly in borders and mixborders. Then, in the process of breeding work, other shades were developed.

The most popular colors of ageratum are blue and white, pink and blue shades. Their combinations and combinations in flower beds and flowerbeds allow you to create pictures of amazing beauty.

Widely used in shaping state symbols, formation of paintings and sculptures.

Before growing ageratum in a flowerbed, you need to decide on the shades and varietal characteristics. In particular, it is worth choosing plants with the same botanical characteristics - the width of the bush, the height of the stem and peduncle.

It is worth paying attention to the following varieties of ageratum Capri (Capri), Blue Mink (Blue Mink), Pinky Improved (pink), Purple Fields.

Choose suitable species The height of the bushes can be determined by the standard markings used to mark bags of seeds.

So, dwarf plants are designated by the word “pumilum” - their height does not exceed 12 cm. But medium-sized varieties are designated by the word “nanum”, they do not reach a height above 30 cm.

It is also worth remembering the good old hybrid forms, especially those related to F1 selection.

Their distinctive feature is rapid growth and huge inflorescences, giving an absolutely fantastic appearance to the flowering bush.

White ageratum variety “Summer Snow” deserves special attention - look at the photo of representatives of this family:

Magnificent snow-white inflorescences will be a wonderful addition to gerberas and verbenas planted nearby. But the blue ageratum “Adriatic” is shown in the photo various types its use, most often it is a border form of plants.

Graceful and “clean” snow-white chrysanthemums and zinnias will look advantageous against the pastel background that sets them off.

In this case, blue ageratum “Ocean” can be used to decorate flower beds and flower beds with various zinnias, asters, marigolds and dahlias planted there.

Ageratum has earned popularity among gardeners due to its unpretentiousness in cultivation and care. Planting this flower in open ground will quickly color your garden bright colors fluffy inflorescences.

Varieties of ageratum

In its homeland (in the tropics of Central America), ageratum grows as a perennial plant. The name of this flower means “ageless”, which is fully justified by its continuous flowering.

Ageratum is a herbaceous bushy plant. In our climate it is grown as annual flower. The bush is spreading, with a large number of shoots. The root system is well developed. Stems are erect. The height of the bushes varies from 10 to 60 cm. The leaves are round or triangular with faint serrations. The flowers are blue, purple, white or pink. The flowers are small, fluffy, collected in small dense inflorescences. At the same time, ageratum produces many flower stalks.

The genus Ageratum has more than 60 species. The most common in floriculture Houston's ageratum or, as it is also called, Mexican. The variety series of this type of ageratum is widely represented on our market. Each variety is unique and differs in bush height, flower color and flowering duration.

The most popular varieties of Mexican ageratum:

• "Alba";
• "Tetra Veali";
• "Blue Perfection";
• "Ocean"
• North Sea.

In the photo you can see characteristics many popular varieties of ageratum and choose your own, the variety that most resonates with you.

It is worth highlighting another type of ageratum - coniform. It differs from the Mexican one in having smaller flowers and blunt-shaped foliage.

Reproduction of ageratum

The most common method of propagating ageratum is by seeds.

Growing annual ageratum seedlings at home will not cause any difficulties. At the end of March, the seeds are sown in prepared boxes. The soil suitable for this is light and moderately nutritious. For example, a sand-peat mixture with the addition of humus in equal proportions.

Important! Ageratum seeds are very small, almost specks of dust. Therefore, they are not buried in the ground, but evenly distributed over the surface.

Boxes with seeds are covered with polyethylene and placed in a warm place for germination. After 7-10 days, the first shoots will appear, and the boxes can be placed on the window. Does not tolerate Ageratum excess humidity air, so you should not spray it. Watering is carried out only when the soil dries out, moderately.

A few weeks after the emergence of seedlings, the first true leaves will develop on the seedlings, and during this period the seedlings are plucked for the first time. The second picking is carried out when the young seedlings have grown a little. This time, each plant is dived into a separate container, since further development the seedling will be rapid.

Two weeks after diving, it is advisable to feed the seedlings with complex mineral fertilizer.

As warm weather sets in outside, the seedlings are hardened off by taking them outside. Fresh air. Gradually, the “walk” time is increased.

In cases where it is necessary to preserve all qualities rare variety The mother bush can be propagated by cuttings. To do this, in the fall the bush is sent to overwinter in a cool place, and in early spring shoots are cut from it for cuttings. Cuttings are germinated in a warm room in boxes with sand. Literally after a few weeks, the root system begins to develop, and after it, shoots form.

Planting ageratum and further care

Ageratum seedlings are planted in open ground late spring, preferably at the end of May. The plant is tolerant of any soil; only in exceptional cases may it be necessary to liming soil that is too acidic.

The place for planting ageratum should be chosen in a bright place, on the south or east side of the site.

Advice. Even slight shading will cause the plant to stretch. In this case abundant flowering will not be possible to achieve.

Ageratum seedlings are planted at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other. There is no need to bury it in the ground. The depth of planting in open ground should correspond to the level of growth of seedlings in pots.

Ageratum needs to be fed with mineral fertilizers three times a season. Feeding with manure and others organic fertilizers should be avoided.

Ageratum requires moderate watering, without excess. To keep the soil breathable, loosening the soil is required after watering and rain. As necessary, the area with ageratum is weeded, removing weeds that inhibit the development of the bushes.

In order for the flowering of ageratum to be abundant and long, faded inflorescences are cut off from the bushes all summer. If you carry out this procedure regularly, the ageratum will produce more and more new buds, delighting you with continuous flowering.

We can conclude that planting and caring for ageratum in open ground is extremely simple due to the unpretentiousness of the plant.

Diseases and pests of ageratum

Despite its unpretentiousness in cultivation, ageratum is susceptible to many diseases. Due to excess moisture and lack of air access to the roots, ageratum is affected by root rot. In this case, the plant cannot be saved and is removed.

Bacterial wilt occurs without apparent cause in the initial stage of leaf chlorosis disease. Ageratum is also affected by the cucumber mosaic virus (yellow spots appear on the leaves, the stem becomes glassy, ​​the buds wither without blooming). At the first symptoms of disease, the affected areas of the plant must be removed, and the remaining shoots must be repeatedly treated with insecticidal preparations or infusions of plants with the same properties (wormwood, bird cherry, tansy, etc.).

Of the pests for ageratum, all types of nematodes are dangerous, spider mite, whitefly. Pest control is carried out using special means until their complete destruction.

Ageratum as an element of landscape design

IN landscape design ageratum looks very good as a background for flower beds, flower beds and works with perennial flowers. Low-growing varieties of ageratum are used to form decorative borders, while tall varieties are grown for cutting.

A combination of ageratum with calendula, zinnia, marigolds and other yellow-orange flowers will give a bright color to the flowerbed. Ageratum is grown for landscaping balconies and is suitable for growing in flowerpots. Flowerpots with ageratum and petunias planted together will decorate gazebos or the threshold of a house.

From the photo, the fluffy flowers of agegatum look at us as something exotic, but in fact, growing this ever-blooming crop is very simple. To do this, you only need to follow some simple rules, which are described above.

Flowering ageratum: video

Types of ageratum: photo

Ageratum - perennial herbaceous plant from the Asteraceae family. In nature, it is found in Eastern India, Mexico, and Peru. Plants are attracted by their abundant green mass and many flowers. Charming fluffy balls of purple, blue or cream colors form a continuous carpet. They exude a very delicate honey aroma. The heat-loving ageratum does not like frost, so it is grown in the garden as an annual. But under the right conditions, caring for it is not difficult. Ageratum is often used for landscaping balconies, verandas or to create a dense flowering carpet on relief slopes.

Botanical description

Ageratum are perennial herbs or subshrubs. They have soft, branched stems that grow upright or droop toward the ground. The length of the shoots is 10-60 cm. The plant is nourished by fibrous rhizomes. When in contact with the ground, roots can also form in internodes. They are covered with bright green or brownish bark with short, barely noticeable pubescence.

Opposite petiolate leaves, oval, heart-shaped or diamond-shaped, grow in the internodes. The edges of the leaves are jagged and the surface is swollen between the veins. Small soft leaves grow 2-5 cm in length.

From May-June, ageratum blooms profusely. The basket-shaped inflorescences resemble fluffy pompoms with a diameter of 1-1.5 cm. They are colored white, pink, purple, blue or purple colour and consist of many small tubular flowers. The flowers consist of long, soft needle-like petals. Inflorescences bloom at the tops of the shoots and also form in the axils of the leaves. They exude a pleasant sweetish aroma that attracts beneficial insects.

After pollination, elongated wedge-shaped achenes with five sides ripen. Inside are very small rounded seeds of dark brown or black color. They retain the ability to germinate for 3-4 years.

Types of ageratum

About 40 plant species have been recorded in the genus Ageratum. Most often, only one of them is grown in culture, and many ornamental varieties have been bred on its basis.

Erect, branched stems form a spherical bush 15-60 cm high. Lush corymbose inflorescences of various colors reach a diameter of 8 cm. They decorate the top of the plant and, in turn, consist of small baskets with a diameter of about 1-1.5 cm. Varieties:

• Alba - blooms many white fluffy flowers;
• Ageratum blue mink (blue). A dense subshrub 20-25 cm high and covered with dark green pubescent leaves. The top is decorated with blue inflorescences, which form a soft cap, similar to mink fur or a blue muff;
• Bavaria - a bush up to 30 cm high is covered with an almost continuous cap of inflorescences. The center of each ball is white, and along the edges there is a bright blue border;
• Blue bouquet - erect or lodging stems 45 cm high bear large bright blue inflorescences;
• White ball - long creeping stems at the top and in the internodes are covered with spherical snow-white inflorescences that bloom by the end of June;
• Pink fire - compact bushes with small leaves and large bright pink inflorescences;
• North Sea is a low-growing plant (about 15 cm) that produces beautiful dark purple flowers.

Growing from seeds

Since in our latitudes, heat-loving ageratum is often grown as annuals, it is convenient to propagate it by seeds. At the end of March, seedlings are planted. For sowing, shallow and wide boxes are used, which are filled with a sand-peat mixture with the addition of humus. The seeds are distributed on the surface, sprayed with water and covered with film. Keep them in a bright place at a temperature of +15…+20°C. It is necessary to ventilate and remove condensation daily, and if necessary, spray the soil.

Sprouts will appear in 10-15 days. After this, the cover is removed. It is necessary to moisten the soil with great care, since seedlings are sensitive to fungal diseases. When 2 true leaves are formed on the plants, it is picked for the first time into another box with a distance of 3-5 cm. After 2 weeks, a second pick is carried out in separate pots or cups. Grow seedlings in a well-lit, warm room, where there is no dampness, and the soil is moderately moistened.

The appropriate time when ageratum is planted in open ground is determined depending on the region. It is necessary that night frosts disappear completely and the average daily temperature settles at +15°C and above.

For planting, select well-lit, draft-protected areas with loose, nutritious soil. The acidity of the soil should be neutral or slightly alkaline. Plants are planted at a depth of the root system with a distance of 10-15 cm. Flowering of seedlings is expected after 2 months.

Vegetative propagation

Ageratum can be propagated by cuttings and layering, but it must be grown in pots that are brought into a warm room for the winter. When pruning in spring, cuttings with 2-3 internodes are cut from the bush. The cut is treated with Kornevin and planted in a container with loose garden soil to a depth of 1-1.5 cm. Before rooting, the cuttings are covered with a transparent cap. After 15-20 days, the shelter is removed and the plants are transplanted into a separate pot. At the end of spring, seedlings can be transferred to open ground.

If the stem comes into contact with the ground, roots will form. It is enough to cut off such cuttings and replant them separately. Often there are already flowers on it. With careful transplantation, they will be preserved and multiplied.

Home care

Regardless of whether ageratum is grown in a container or in open ground, it is easy to care for. Plants definitely need bright lighting. On a hot afternoon, protect the shoots from direct sunlight. With a lack of light, the stems will become very elongated and there will be very few flowers. Ageratum can withstand even extreme heat, but when the temperature drops to +1...+5°C it dies. Before such cold weather, you can dig up the bushes and replant them in pots or bring the flowerpots indoors.

Ageratum needs to be watered frequently so that the soil dries out only on the surface. At the same time, plants are sensitive to stagnant water. They immediately slow down growth and stop flowering. It is especially important not to overwater young flowers.

Ageratum is fed three times per season (in spring, during flowering and in September). mineral complex for flowering plants. Organic feeding is not recommended for it.

It is very important that the soil is light and air penetrates to the roots. Therefore, it needs to be loosened several times a month and weeds removed. Since the rhizome is close to the surface, you should not be too zealous with weeding.

As the shoots grow and the flowers fade, pruning is carried out. This allows you to preserve compact ornamental bushes and prolong flowering.

Possible difficulties

Ageratum is quite sensitive to plant diseases. In heavy soil and with regular flooding, the roots suffer from rot. The development of bacterial diseases and leaf chlorosis is possible. Sometimes the leaves are covered with a mosaic pattern with yellow spots(“cucumber mosaic virus”).

Plants that are only slightly damaged can be saved. To do this, the bushes are replanted with soil replacement and treated with a fungicide. You can spray the plants with infusion of wormwood, bird cherry or tansy.

Planting and care in open ground

Use in the garden

Delicate soft greenery and abundant fluffy inflorescences of ageratum add a romantic charm to the flower garden. Plants do not differ in height, because even long stems bend towards the ground. Therefore, in a flower garden they are planted in the foreground. You can use ageratum for planting in containers or flower pots. It is great for landscaping verandas and balconies. masonry and borders. Partners for ageratum can be calendula, zinnia, marigolds and other brightly flowering plants.