Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Share

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:
Chromolaena odorata (Blue mistflower)
Pyle, Lynn

Chromolaena odorata

Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & H. Rob.

Blue Mistflower, Fragrant Mistflower, Blue Boneset, Fragrant Boneset, Jack In The Bush, Crucita, Siam Weed, Common Flossflower, Christmas Bush, Devilweed

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Eupatorium odoratum, Osmia odorata

USDA Symbol: CHOD

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), PR (N), VI (I)

Chromolaena odorata is a deciduous sub-shrub in North America. (It is a shrub in the tropics.) Branched stems curve upward and are usually 2-6 ft. in height. Somewhat triangular-shaped leaves are virtually evergreen in extreme s. TX. Lilac to bright purplish-blue flowers cluster together into showy, ageratum-like flower heads.

Dies back to the roots in hard winters.

 

From the Image Gallery

39 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Subshrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Size Notes: Up to about 8 feet tall, often much shorter.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov , Dec
Bloom Notes: Sometimes flowers year-round.

Distribution

USA: FL , TX
Native Distribution: Mexico and the Caribbean n. to Florida, s.e. TX, & the Rio Grande Plain
Native Habitat: Fence rows

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Various well-drained soils. Clay, Rocky, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Caliche type Limestone-based
Conditions Comments: Because of leggy growth habit, it should be cut back once/year. Dies back to the roots in hard winters. Can be trained on an espalier.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Ground cover, Showy, Blooms ornamental, Aromatic, Arbor, Mass planting, Patio pot plant
Use Wildlife: Nectar-bees, Nectar-butterflies, Nectar-insects, Browse, Seeds-granivorous birds
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes

Propagation

Description: Propagate with seed or softwood cuttings.
Commercially Avail: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FAC FACU FAC FACU*
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Naval Air Station Kingsville - Kingsville, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
National Butterfly Center - Mission, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 354 - Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 57 - Atlas of Florida Plants (2020) Institute for Systematic Botany
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Chromolaena odorata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Chromolaena odorata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Chromolaena odorata

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-09
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back