White Fragrant Mist Flower

Mist Flower, Fragrant, Shrubby Boneset   Ageratina havanensis(2015)
Evergreen, 4 ft x 3ft 

Rounded shape; grows in most soils; fragrant blooms in fall; attracts butterflies, moths and hummingbirds; 

Also called shrubby white boneset or Havana snakeroot.

This shrubby plant normally grows to about 2′ tall and wide, but may get up to 6′ tall. 

In the fall thru early winter, it is covered in highly fragrant, fuzzy white blooms.

It is native to rocky, limestone areas where the soil holds very little water so it prefers good drainage, but it also easily tolerates poorly drained soils, as long you don’t overwater it. It will also tolerate shady areas, but will perform better and bloom more profusely in the full, bright sun.


This plant requires very little water once established and is a great addition to any Central Texas landscape if you want a trouble-free shrub to attract lots of pollinators!

Pruning:  Cut back by 1/2 in winter before new growth begins, if needed to maintain compactness.  Once blooming starts to slow down with the onset of winter, give it a good, heavy shearing to encourage denser new growth in the spring and more profuse blooms next fall. If you don’t shear the plant, blooming will be very sparse, since boneset/white mistflower only produces flowers on new wood.

Personal Notes:  These grow abundantly in the undeveloped back portion of our property.  I purchased one from the Natural Gardener in 2015, without realizing they were the same plant found all around the property.  A year later, I transplanted a second one next to the first one, to fill out the area... only to realize that I planted them too close together. 

I must admit, I sort of forget about this plant for most of the year.  It is super tough, can take very dry conditions and crappy soil.  It needs no love or attention - so I frequently give it none. And then in the fall, for a few weeks, it bursts into flower, and becomes a total butterfly magnet, with literally dozens of butterflies feasting on its nectar. And then I feel bad for neglecting it all year :o)

In March 2019, I did a deep pruning on the bush for the first time, cutting it back to around 1 1/2 feet tall and wide.  We will see how that goes as the year progresses.