Blue Boneset

Conoclinium coelestinum

Pollinator Value

🐛 Larval Host: Haploa clymene (Clymene Moth), Phragmatobia lineata (Lined Ruby Tiger Moth), Carmenta bassiformis (Eupatorium Borer Moth), Schinia trifascia (Three-Lined Flower Moth)
S10 Eupatorium-associated lepidoptera; ranges include ON/QC

Proximity Score: 2
Native Status: ❌ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ❌ QC ❌ ON
Closest Direction: SE
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.3 – Atlantic Highlands, 5.3.1 – Northern Appalachians and Atlantic Maritime Highlands
Rarity Notes: Globally secure (G5). Nationally ranked NNA in Canada (not applicable, exotic). Listed as introduced and ephemeral in Ontario per VASCAN. Not SARA-listed. Native range is central and southeastern United States; presence in Canada is entirely adventive.
S22 S1 S26
Rarity Ranks: QC SNA – Not Applicable, ON SNA – Not Applicable
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: A rhizomatous perennial of moist to wet lowland habitats in the eastern United States, typically found along stream banks, lakeshores, flood plains, wet meadows, ditches, and low woods. In its native range (NJ to southern IL and eastern KS, south to FL and TX), it colonizes disturbed moist sites including roadsides and railroad margins at 50-400 m elevation. In Ontario it is introduced and ephemeral per VASCAN. The nearest preserved specimens to Gatineau are in New York State (ecoregion 5.3.1), well south of the Ottawa Valley.
S6 S1 S48 S10

Roles: Insectary Plant, Living Mulch, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Insectary Plant: S64 NPPBI 'beneficial insects' flag] | Living Mulch: S10 keyword match: forms? colon(?:y|ies) (supporting signal only)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)]
Notes: Functions as a vigorous rhizomatous ground cover in moist sites, suppressing weeds through dense colonial growth. An exceptional late-season nectar source for butterflies and bees, making it valuable as an insectary border plant. Caution: spreads aggressively in moist open ground and should be sited where runners can be contained or thinned regularly.
S29 S10 S64

❌ Not Edible

Foraging Notes: No edible uses documented. PFAF assigns an edibility rating of 0/5 and USDA records Palatable Human=No.
S29 S11