|  Gregg’s
Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii formerly called
Eupatorium greggii)
Blue flowers are the exception in our landscape color schemes. The
lavender blue blooms of Gregg’s Mistflower appear from spring
through fall and are a magnet for several species of butterflies.
This central Texas native forms a spreading groundcover that reaches
a height of 12 to 24 inches and is virtually pest and disease free.
It prefers a moderately moist soil and full sun to partial shade.
Producer’s note: My garden rarely receives
irrigation, and this plant works great. In fact, almost too well—in
a perennial bed, it tends to take over. The flowers and butterflies
make its invasive attitude well worth it, but I restrict where I
put it.
I’ve found a happy companion planting situation by using
it in a bulb bed. It covers the bare earth when the spring bulbs
are dormant. It doesn’t hurt the daylilies, and the fall bulbs
march right through it. It’s a nice look to see the lavender
flowers against the red oxbloods and lycoris.
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Set out naturalizing bulbs any time
the next few weeks. It isn’t necessary to add bone meal. A
rule of thumb for planting depth is three times as deep as wide.
However, bulbs will find the right level on their own, so don’t
worry about hauling a ruler out to the garden!
Now’s the time to plant lettuce, spinach, arugala and other
cold weather salad makings. You can also plant turnips and carrots.
This is the time to sow larkspur and sweet pea seeds, and you can
set out transplants of calendulas, stock, and snapdragons.
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