ageratum

American  

[aj-uh-rey-tuhm, uh-jer-uh-] / ˌædʒ əˈreɪ təm, əˈdʒɛr ə- /

noun

1. any of several composite plants of the genus Ageratum, especially A. houstonianum, having heart-shaped leaves and small, dense, blue, lavender, or white flower heads, often grown in gardens.

2. any of various other composite plants, as the mistflower, having blue or white flowers.

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ageratum British  

/ ˌædʒəˈreɪtəm /

noun

1. any tropical American plant of the genus Ageratum, such as A. houstonianum and A. conyzoides, which have thick clusters of purplish-blue flowers

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Etymology

Origin of ageratum

1560–70; < New Latin; Latin agēraton < Greek agḗraton, neuter of agḗratos unaging, equivalent to a- a- ⁶ + gērat- (stem of gêras ) old age + -os adj. suffix

Example Sentences

One of the prettiest beds I saw last summer was filled with Sweet Alyssum, and edged with Ageratum.

From Amateur Gardencraft A Book for the Home-Maker and Garden Lover by Rexford, Eben E. (Eben Eugene)

Ageratum is lovely for edging beds of pink Geraniums, its soft lavender tones being in perfect harmony with their color.

From Amateur Gardencraft A Book for the Home-Maker and Garden Lover by Rexford, Eben E. (Eben Eugene)

The centre beds are filled with annuals in prevailing colors of pink, blue, and white, noticeably Snapdragon, Ageratum, Sweet Alyssum, pink Geranium, and Begonia.

From Beautiful Gardens in America by Shelton, Louise

Ageratum, candytuft and dwarf nasturtiums are good for the purpose.

From The Library of Work and Play: Gardening and Farming. by Shaw, Ellen Eddy

Other dwarfs are recorded to have sprung from species in the same sudden and unexpected manner, as for instance Ageratum coeruleum of the same nursery, further Clematis Viticella nana and Acer campestre nanum.

From Species and Varieties, Their Origin by Mutation by Vries, Hugo de