Ageratum 'Timeless Mix' Seeds

Ageratum houstonianum is a Half-Hardy Annual (H2), meaning it won't survive frost but grows beautifully through our British summer.

Originally from Central America and Mexico, it loves warmth and sunshine. The 'Timeless' series represents a modern breeding breakthrough—unlike older varieties where the flowers shatter (shed their petals) as they age, 'Timeless' blooms hold onto their fluffy pompoms for weeks, giving them an incredible vase life of 7-10 days in water.

The Fuzzy Advantage: That distinctive fluffy texture isn't just decorative—it provides an excellent landing pad for butterflies and bees. The tiny tubular flowers are packed with nectar, making this a surprisingly good plant for pollinators despite its soft, gentle appearance.

Ageratum is wonderfully easy to grow from seed, with one simple golden rule: the seeds need light to germinate, so don't bury them!

How to Sow:
Sow indoors from February to April. Sprinkle the seeds onto moist compost and don't cover them (or use only the finest dusting of vermiculite). Keep warm (around 20-22°C) and you should see tiny seedlings popping up in 7-10 days. They germinate beautifully reliably.

Where to Plant:
Plant out after all risk of frost has passed (usually late May in most of the UK). They thrive in full sun and rich, moisture-retentive soil. Unlike many annuals, they actually prefer soil that doesn't dry out completely—they'll wilt quickly in sandy, drought-prone spots, so mulching helps enormously.

The Professional Pinch:
Here's a florist's secret for getting the best cutting stems. When your plants reach about 15cm tall, pinch out the central growing tip. Yes, you sacrifice that first flower, but the plant responds by producing multiple long, straight side branches that are absolutely perfect for cutting. It's worth the wait!

Ongoing Care:
Water regularly during dry spells and deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming right through to the first frosts. They're not particularly hungry plants, but a light feed every few weeks keeps them flowering prolifically.

The soft, fuzzy texture of Ageratum creates stunning contrasts when paired with bold shapes and strong colours:

• 🌸 Zinnias 'Giants of California': The textural contrast here is absolutely gorgeous. Zinnias have bold, solid, almost waxy petals in vibrant colours, while Ageratum provides soft, fuzzy clouds in gentle pastels. Together they create a sophisticated cottage garden combination that looks effortlessly beautiful in both borders and bouquets.
• ☁️ Cosmos 'Sensation Mixed': Both Ageratum and Cosmos share a love of sunshine and provide endless flowers for cutting. The tall, ferny foliage of Cosmos (reaching up to 1m) perfectly covers the lower stems of the Ageratum, while the large daisy-like Cosmos blooms create a beautiful height contrast with the low, fluffy Ageratum carpet. It's a classic cottage garden pairing.

Sow indoors in spring. Flowers from June until the first frosts.