As every single Iris 'Pink Panther' bulb I planted in 2022 appears to be blooming simultaneously, many bearing two buds flowering at once, they were an obvious choice to fill a vase this week. I decided to fluff up the arrangement with the tall stems of a plant I'd identified as an Ageratum for lack of another name for it. I couldn't recall planting it and I've no record of it in the spreadsheet I keep (although I admit I don't always manage to document everything). The white flowers closely resemble those of Ageratums but the shrub-like plant is four feet tall, has woody stems, and comes back annually when I prune it. I've previously made unsuccessful stabs at identifying alternative species but I dug in a little deeper yesterday and I believe I may have pinpointed it at last as Ageratina adenophora, a weed commonly known as Mexican devil. I ruled out Conoclinum coelestinum (aka wild ageratum) and Ageratina altissima (aka white snakeroot). The former has only blue flowers and the foliage of the latter wasn't right. Ageratina adenophora is native to Mexico and Central America and, although once offered as an ornamental plant, it's become a noxious weed in many parts of the world, including California and other parts of the US Southwest. I imagine it hitchhiked into my garden. Mystery solved (probably).
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| I tucked in a few Calendulas to echo the splashes of gold in the petals of the Dutch Irises |
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| Back view: Somehow, when shoving my flowers into place I always seem to end up losing the symmetry I sought at the outset |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Ageratina adenophora, Calendula officianalis 'Cantaloupe Mix', Iris hollandica 'Pink Panther', Limonium perezii, Ranunculus 'Tecolote White', and Salvia 'Bee's Bliss' |
My second arrangement has no mysterious baggage. It's just another sunny arrangement to boost my spirits during what's proven to be a distressing and frustrating month.
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| I cut all the Anemone 'Rosa Chiaro' currently in bloom in my cutting garden |
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| Back view, featuring Anemone 'Bianco Centro Nero' |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: noID Alstroemeria, Anemone coronaria 'Bianco Centro Nero', A. c. 'Rosa Chiaro', Argyranthemum frutescens 'Aramis Apricot', Cuphea 'Honeybells', and Salvia 'Skyscraper Orange' |
The ten-day forecast currently shows a good possibility of rain on March 31st or April 1st (depending on which weather service I consult) but then Mother Nature may simply have an April Fool's joke in mind for us.
For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
You have a plethora of blooms to choose from, wonderful! The Anemones stand out to me, I love the dark center with fluffy petals. Hopefully we both get some rain in this next round!
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed, Tracy! Weather Underground now seems to think we might get a little rain here on April Fool's Day but AccuWeather is pushing the likelihood off until April 4th...
DeleteLove the colors of the first one! The second one, too, but there's something about that shade of periwinkle blue, and with the yellow it just "pops" in a calm kind of way. The Anemones in the second vase, however, are truly special, too. Happy IAVOM!
ReplyDeleteI was surprised at just how many 'Pink Panther' Irises are blooming simultaneously, Beth. I didn't expect a particularly good show from them this year given how dry we've been but I guess the showers we received were at least well-timed ;)
DeleteOoh, such pleasing color combinations, Kris. Beautiful! 👏🏼
ReplyDeleteAre you getting that heat wave I've seen in the news? Eliza
If temperatures in the low 70sF count as a heatwave, then we can claim a warm spring, Eliza. Although I've heard some forecasts mentioning temperatures in the 80s, we haven't experienced anything like that, at least so far.
DeleteTypical click-bait hype! I fall for it every time. 🤨
DeleteWell, I may have spoken too soon, Eliza. Today's temperature has climbed to 84F, which wasn't in my local forecast. A friend in the SF Valley (about 50 miles to our north and farther from the ocean) said hers was headed toward 90F!
DeleteIt's a bit of a double edged sword, knowing what the plant is, but also that's a thug - but at least for the time being it makes a great addition to your vase! But the anemones in your second vase ...wow! They almost seem unreal, and it just shows that we get so used to the red,white and blue varieties that pink ones come as a shock, and they look especially wonderful complemented by the alstroemeria and other blooms
ReplyDeleteI haven't decided what to do about the Ageratina in the long-term, Cathy. I think I'll start by cutting it back hard after its bloom period is done. At least it wasn't Ageratina altissima, which is highly toxic. Ageratina adenophora can apparently be toxic to horses if it gets into their feed but there's no danger of that happening here. As to the Anemones, I love them too!
DeleteLove the pink panther irises. Also the white Ranunculus is glorious. The pink arrangement is so charming and I'm glad it's cheering you a bit. Hope you get some rain. We had a small shower this morning, much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThe chance of rain seems to be lessening with every passing day, although I remain hopeful we'll get at least a couple more soakings before our rainy reason comes to its usual abrupt end in April, Susie.
DeleteGorgeous, Kris. I hate identifying potentially wonderful invasive weeds! I find them and then feel guilty for loving them. I think I have the big Blue Ageratum here. I am hoping for rain here tomorrow. Amelia
ReplyDeleteWhile drought is relative, it does seem that more and more parts of the country (and the world) are experiencing stretches of it. That's even more scary to me than the perpetual (if also worsening) drought situation in my own area, Amelia.
DeleteLuscious is all I can say! By this time of year, I am starved and these are all fabulous. Whatever your white flowering plant is it is very pretty and Mexican Devil is not a very nice name!! Sometimes I get concerned about those listed as noxious as they are so attractive and nature has its own way of knowing what is okay - sometimes!! Do you use the app 'Picture This' ? I find it really useful when memory fails which it does more and more frequently.
ReplyDeletehttps://zonethreegardenlife.blog/2025/03/23/in-a-vase-monday-march-24-2025/
No "Mexican devil" isn't a nice name but it was the only common name I initially came across. I suspect that's because it's considered an invasive weed in farmland areas. I'm not acquainted with Picture This but I do try the plant ID app on my iPhone when I'm befuddled. Frankly, that app needs a lot of work before it becomes reliable but it sometimes helps.
DeleteJenny again! I put it through 'Picture This' and it came up as Agerantina havanensis. What do you think? It is pretty!
ReplyDeleteHmm, it could be Agerantina havanensis or adenophora, Jenny. The foliage of my plant doesn't look quite as neat as the species you identified. It's definitely an Ageratina of some kind!
DeleteSo funny to me that a plant listed as native to Mexico is classed as noxious weed rather than native in southern California. Although I think that has more to do with agricultural reasoning than political boundaries. If it's not reseeding heavily for you and there aren't horse farms nearby, I say treat it as a climate refugee and let it be :) Fingers crossed for rain...
ReplyDeleteCal-IPC rates (Invasive Plant Council) actually rates is as "moderately" invasive. It's odd that I've never seen it before as it's said to be common along the California coast. I suspect there are quite a lot of plant (and human) "climate refugees" both entering and exiting California ;)
Delete"No mysterious baggage"... hahaha, I spit my coffee laughing at that one.
ReplyDeleteThese days, it's a good thing if I can offer a laugh to someone on any given day, Loree :)
DeleteEven if the shrub is a thug, at least it has its uses as a lovely filler. The irises are beauties Kris, but it's the pink anemones that have stolen my heart this week. Gooooorgeous! I can't wait to see what colour mine will be when/if they ever flower. They have remained very small since sprouting in their pot, but at least they do look like they are still alive!
ReplyDeleteI hope your anemone flowers live up to your dreams, Cathy!
DeleteNoxious weed==uhoh. Good idea to use it in arrangements so it can't reseed. Give it an inch...
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, beyond the "baggage", what luxurious color and texture!
Jenny suggested that the ageratum-like plant may be a different, less assertive, species of Ageratina but the fact that it landed in my garden on its own is definitely concerning. It's been here well over 2 years, though, and hasn't spread. I'll cut it back hard this year and see what happens.
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