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When to Plant Ageratum in Park County, WY

Park County, Wyoming Zone 5a June

Your June gardening checklist

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Park County, Wyoming this June and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost May 21
Avg. first frost September 22
Soil temp (4") 44°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 15.3 hrs
To set up a strong July, finish these tasks
  • Starting indoors: ageratum
  • First harvests: ageratum

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Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum), the floss flower, produces clusters of fluffy, powder-puff blooms in the rare sky-blue and lavender tones difficult to find among warm-season annuals. Compact mounding habit makes it ideal as a front-of-border edging plant. Blooms from early summer through fall with minimal deadheading; heat and humidity tolerant once established.

Park County, Wyoming is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 21 and the first fall frost is September 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 124 days.

At an elevation of 6,993 feet, Park County receives approximately 16.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Ageratum to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Ageratum successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Annual Blooms in Multi-season Pollinator-friendly Good for cutting
Park County, WY (Zone 5a) Short season
124 days
Last Spring Frost May 21
124 growing days
First Fall Frost September 22

Park County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-8.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Ageratum Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: May 17 🌸 Bloom: Jul 12 – Oct 4
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 28 🌸 Bloom: Jul 23 – Oct 15
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 10 Transplant: Jul 5 🌸 Bloom: Aug 30 – Nov 22

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Park County

How your county's soil matches Ageratum's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.8–8.2) is more alkaline than Ageratum prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Park County is excellent for Ageratum — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.8%). Annual compost additions will help Ageratum.

How to Plant Ageratum

8"
Between Plants
10"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Ageratum

2
successive plantings in your 124-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 09 to harvest before frost.

Ageratum Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 575 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Ageratum

Ageratum needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Ageratum Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Park County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Ageratum Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Ageratum needs ~827 GDD — county provides 1,519 GDD Excellent fit

Ageratum Planting Timeline — Park County, WY

Ageratum Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 2 Apr 2 – Apr 16
Transplant Outdoors May 28 May 28 – Jun 11
Direct Sow May 28 May 28 – Jun 18
Bloom July 23 Jul 23 – Oct 15

· 8" apart · Rows 10" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July Bloom
August Bloom
September Bloom
October Bloom
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–75 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

124 days in Park County

Growing Tips for Ageratum in Park County

Direct sow Ageratum outdoors after May 21 in Park County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Ageratum in this region include aphids and slugs. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Park County receives only 17" of rain annually. Ageratum needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost — do not cover seed; it needs light to germinate. Can be direct-sown after last frost once soil warms to 60°F. Transplant or thin to proper spacing after frost danger passes. Deadheading isn't strictly required but tidying spent clusters improves appearance. Provide consistent moisture; drought causes premature setting. Avoid deep shade — blooms best in full sun to light afternoon shade.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Ageratum in Park County, WY?

Park County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 21. Plan your Ageratum planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Park County, WY?

Park County, Wyoming is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 21 and first fall frost is September 22.

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Your Park County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Park County (Zone 5a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Park County, WY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.