Join / Renew / Gift Donate Shop Member Portal Language

Search
npsot_bluebonnet_full_color

Native Plant Society of Texas

Fragrant Mistflower

Chromolaena odorata

Other common name(s):

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

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

3
to
6
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Semi Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Poor Drainage, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Purple

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Nectar Insects, Bees

Maintenance

This is a low maintenance, drought tolerant plant. Cut back annually to half its height to make it bushy. In extreme winters it will die back to the ground, but sprout again in spring. Propagation: seed, softwood cutting.

Comments

Blooms August-December. Fragrant Mistflower has curved shaped branches that can reach 8 ft. in length. The arrow shaped leaves are evergreen in the southern part of it’s range. Lilac to bright purplish-blue flowers cluster together into showy flower heads. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus. #1 Coastal Bend butterfly plant, a Monarch favorite. Abundant nectar for butterflies and other insects when most plants are not in bloom. Larval host: Rounded Metal-mark Butterfly
Previous Scientific Name(s): Eupatorium odoratum, Osmia odorata

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Seeds should be sown in a well-draining soil mix and kept moist until germination. requires light to germinate and is best sown very near the surface, but it may still emerge when buried up to 3cm deep. Emergence takes 4 - 12 days. During the first 3 months of growth the seedlings stay rather small and mainly form leaves. Later, the length and biomass of the stem increase rapidly. Collect mature flower heads from an existing plant. Look for heads that have turned brown and fluffy. Gently rub the flower head between your fingers to release the seeds. A small proportion of the seed will germinate when freshly harvested, but most remains dormant - after 2 years up to 40% of the seed will still germinate. 1) https://earthone.io/plant/chromolaena%20odorata 2) https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=chromolaena+odorata 3) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-chromolaena-odorata/
Stem Cutting Propagation is best done in the spring or early summer. Dip the cut end of each stem in rooting hormone powder (this encourages faster root development, though it’s not strictly necessary). Insert the cuttings into a pot filled with a well-draining potting mix. Make sure at least one node (the point where leaves were attached) is buried in the soil. Water the cuttings thoroughly, ensuring the soil is evenly moist. Place the pot in a warm, humid location with indirect sunlight. Roots should develop within 2-3 weeks. Select healthy, non-flowering stems from a mature plant. Cuttings should be about 4-6 inches long. Remove the leaves from the bottom inch of each cutting. 1) https://earthone.io/plant/chromolaena%20odorata 2) https://www.pakbs.org/pjbot/PDFs/45%284%29/33.pdf 3) https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=chromolaena+odorata 4) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-chromolaena-odorata/

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason