Eupatorium greggii

(aka: Conoclinium greggii) This amazing, heat-loving Southwest native (Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas) should be grown in every garden from Zone 7 south and in containers from Zone 7 north. Resembling a rhizomatous perennial ageratum, Eupatorium greggii begins to flower in September and continues into December. The 2' tall, spreading patch (3' wide in 3 years) of cut-leaf light green foliage is literally smothered in fall with delightful 2" airy clusters of small blue-violet flowers (RHS 92A)...butterflies not included. Eupatorium greggii is much better behaved than the more aggressive Eupatorium coelestinum. We would not be without this great easy-to-grow native perennial in the fall garden.