Conoclinium dissectum
palmleaf mistflower
Texas, southwestern United States, and Mexico
Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesDeer ResistantDrought TolerantContainer Friendly
Native to North America
Overview
Conoclinium dissectum is a rhizomatous perennial of Texas, the southwestern United States, and northern Mexico, forming spreading colonies 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) tall and 18-36 inches (45-90 cm) wide. The opposite leaves are triangular and deeply dissected into narrow, toothed lobes, giving a lacy, palm-like outline that distinguishes it from the broader-leaved Conoclinium coelestinum. From summer into fall it produces flat-topped clusters of soft, fuzzy blue to lavender-purple flower heads, each made up of thread-like disk florets with no ray petals. The flowers draw large numbers of butterflies, including queens and monarchs, along with bees and other pollinators. C. dissectum grows on limestone slopes, along streams and washes, and in open rocky ground, tolerating heat, drought, and alkaline soil. It spreads by underground rhizomes and can form wide patches, crowding smaller neighbors in a border. The top growth dies back after frost and resprouts from the roots in spring. Plants are hardy in USDA zones 7-10 and bloom in their first or second season. The spreading rhizomes make it difficult to keep within a fixed area in formal beds.
Native Range
Conoclinium dissectum is native to Texas, the southwestern United States, and northern Mexico. It grows on rocky limestone slopes, along streams and washes, and in open ground in grassland and desert-edge communities.Suggested Uses
Grown in butterfly and pollinator gardens, native and xeric plantings, and naturalized borders where it can spread. It is spaced 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) apart and combines with grasses and other drought-tolerant perennials. The late-season flowers are a nectar source during fall butterfly migration.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'
Width/Spread1'6" - 3'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from summer into fall, often continuing until frost. The fuzzy blue to lavender-purple flower heads are clustered in flat-topped corymbs and lack ray petals. They draw queens, monarchs, and other butterflies along with bees over a long period.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
blue to lavender-purpleFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Conoclinium dissectum grows in full sun to partial shade with 6-10 hours of light and well-drained loam, sand, rocky, or clay soil at pH 6.5 to 8.0. It tolerates heat, drought, and alkaline ground once established and needs only occasional water. The plant is hardy in USDA zones 7-10 and dies back to the rhizomes each winter. It spreads by underground runners, so a root barrier or annual edging keeps the colony in bounds. Rich, moist soil produces lush growth and the widest spread.Pruning
Cutting the plant back by half in early summer produces a denser, more compact habit and can delay and extend bloom. Spent growth is cut to the ground after frost or left over winter for cover and cleared in late winter. Unwanted rhizomes are dug out in spring to limit spread.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons