Life Span
Annual and Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tender Perennial
  
Flowering Plants, Herbs
  
Origin
Mexico, Central America
  
Southwestern United States, Mexico
  
Types
A. houstonianum f. isochroum, A. houstonianum f. luteum, A. houstonianum var. muticescens
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden
  
Mountains, Upland
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-13
  
4-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
  
9-2
  
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
  
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Blue, Blue Violet
  
Red, Rose, Crimson
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Brown
  
Brown
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
  
Long Linear
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Late Spring, Early Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Pollution, Salt
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
From bulbs
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Keep the Soil well drained
  
Do Not over Water, Requires a lot of watering
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove damaged leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Leaf spot, Root rot
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
  
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
  
Allergy
allergic reaction, Poisonous, Skin irritation
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Insignificant
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Anodyne, Cuts, Wounds
  
Broken Bones, Burns, Sore throat, Stomach aliments, Urine infections
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
  
Whole plant
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Insignificant
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Edging, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
AGERATUM houstonianum
  
PENSTEMON barbatus
  
Common Name
Ageratum, Blue Mink, Flossflower
  
Beardlip Penstemon, Scarlet Beardtongue
  
In Hindi
Blue Mink
Plant
  
Beardlip Penstemon
  
In German
Blue Mink
Pflanze
  
Beardlip Penstemon
  
In French
Bleu Mink
Plante
  
penstemon beardlip
  
In Spanish
azul Mink
Planta
  
penstemon beardlip
  
In Greek
μπλε βιζόν
Φυτό
  
beardlip penstemon
  
In Portuguese
azul Mink
Plantar
  
penstemon beardlip
  
In Polish
niebieski Mink
Roślina
  
beardlip penstemon
  
In Latin
blue Mink
planta
  
Birdlip penstemon
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Asterales
  
Lamiales
  
Family
Asteraceae
  
Scrophulariaceae
  
Genus
Ageratum
  
Penstemon
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Dicotyledonous, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Eupatorieae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Asteroideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available