Ageratum conyzoides
L.
Asteraceae
Ageratum album Berol. ex Hornem.
Ageratum arsenei B.L.Rob.
Ageratum ciliare Lour.
Ageratum coeruleum Desf.
Ageratum cordifolium Roxb.
Ageratum hirsutum Poir.
Ageratum hirtum Lam.
Ageratum humile Larrañaga
Ageratum humile Salisb.
Ageratum latifolium Cav.
Ageratum meridanum V.M.Badillo
Ageratum microcarpum (Benth. ex Benth.) Hemsl.
Ageratum nanum Hort. ex Sch.Bip.
Ageratum obtusifolium Lam.
Ageratum odoratum Bailly
Ageratum pinetorum (L.O.Williams) R.M.King & H.Rob.
Ageratum suffruticosum Regel
Alomia microcarpa (Benth. ex Benth.) B.L.Rob.
Alomia pinetorum L.O.Williams
Cacalia mentrasto Vell.
Caelestina latifolia (Cav.) Benth. ex Oerst.
Caelestina microcarpa Benth. ex Benth.
Caelestina microcarpa Benth. ex Oerst.
Carelia conyzoides (L.) Kuntze
Chrysocoma maculata Vell.
Eupatorium conyzoides (L.) E.H.L.Krause
Eupatorium paleaceum Sessé & Moc.
Common Name: Goatweed
General Information
Ageratum conyzoides is a coarse annual plant with an erect stem and a strong, unpleasant smell. It can grow up to about 1 metre tall[
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on any modern research into the plants.
].
The plant is often harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine; it is also sometimes grown as an ornamental plant[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
,
283- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 92 9061 101 4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
].
The plant is a common weed in the tropics, though is much less likely to be a problem in the temperate zone[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. It can flower and produce fruit all year round; individual plants can produce 40,000 seeds and, in some areas, one-half of the seeds will germinate shortly after they are shed. Seeds are mainly spread by wind and water and will germinate under a wide range of conditions[
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Range
S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to Mexico; Caribbean.
Habitat
A common weed of cultivated ground, having spread from its native range to all areas of the Tropics within 20° of the Equator, to an elevation of 2,500 metres[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Properties
Weed Potential | Yes |
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Annual |
Height | 1.00 m |
Pollinators | Insects |
Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Ageratum conyzoides is not frost hardy, though it can be grown as a summer annual in many areas of the temperate zone[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]
Succeeds in full sun in a sheltered position in any reasonably fertile moisture-retentive soil that does not dry out in the summer[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Plants are reasonably tolerant of shade, though can be outcompeted by taller plants[
]. Plant vigour and flowering periods are much reduced on dry soils[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The plant is a common weed in the tropics[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. It can flower and produce fruit all year round; individual plants can produce 40,000 seeds and, in some areas, one-half of the seeds will germinate shortly after they are shed. Seeds are mainly spread by wind and water and will germinate under a wide range of conditions[
].
The fresh plant is malodorous[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
There are records that the fresh leaves have been eaten, combined with Abelmoschus esculentus[
617- Title
- Traditional Vegetables in Benin
- Publication
-
- Author
- Achigan-Dako E. Et al
- Publisher
- Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin.
]. It only happens rarely and it is probably eaten mainly for its supposed medicinal benefits by nursing mothers who believe it helps to increase their milk flow[
617- Title
- Traditional Vegetables in Benin
- Publication
-
- Author
- Achigan-Dako E. Et al
- Publisher
- Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin.
].
Medicinal
The whole plant is antiinflammatory and antiallergic[
283- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 92 9061 101 4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
]. Antinematocidal, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, smooth muscle relaxant, haemostatic, analgesic, antifungal, antibacterial and hypothermic activities have been recorded[
311- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
]. The plant also has an antidiarrhoeal effect[
311- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
].
The plant contains between 0.7 - 2.0% essential oil, plus alkaloids and saponins[
283- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 92 9061 101 4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
]. The essential oils contained in the plant have antibiotic properties[
311- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
]. The plant is highly embryotoxic to Dysderus flacidis and acts on embryonic development at an early stage[
311- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
].
The juice of the fresh plant, or an extract of the dried plant, is used in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and sinusitis[
283- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 92 9061 101 4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
]. The juice of the fresh plant is also useful in treating post-partum uterine haemorrhage[
283- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 92 9061 101 4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
].
The plant is used to treat constipation, infective hepatitis, eczema, epilepsy, fresh wounds, dizziness, diarrhoea, dysentery, sore eyes, fever, headaches, intestinal worms, filariasis, vomiting and nausea, wounds and cuts[
311- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
].
The juice of the root is antilithic[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
,
243- Title
- Medicinal Plants of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal.
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Terse details of the medicinal properties of Nepalese plants, including cultivated species and a few imported herbs.
]. A paste of the root, mixed with the bark of Schinus wallichii, is applied to set dislocated bones[
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
].
The leaves are styptic[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
]. They are dried and applied as a powder to cuts, sores and the ruptures caused by leprosy[
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
], The powder absorbs the moisture of the disease and forms a layer that is removed after 1 - 2 days[
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
]. An effective cure for most cuts and sores, though it does not effect a complete cure for leprosy[
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
]. The leaves are also used externally in the treatment of ague[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
,
243- Title
- Medicinal Plants of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal.
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Terse details of the medicinal properties of Nepalese plants, including cultivated species and a few imported herbs.
].
The juice of the plant is used to treat cuts, wounds and bruises[
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
].
A paste of the leaves is used as a poultice to remove thorns from the skin[
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
]. A paste made of the leaves mixed with equal amounts of Bidens pilosa, Drymaria cordata, Galinsoga parviflora and the rhizome of Zingiber officinale is used to treat snakebites[
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
].
The juice of the flowerheads is used externally to treat scabies, whilst a paste of them is used to treat rheumatism[
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
]. A tea made from the flowerheads mixed with Ocimum tenuifolium is used to treat coughs and colds[
272- Title
- Plants and People of Nepal
- Publication
-
- Author
- Manandhar. N. P.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 0-88192-527-6
- Description
- Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
].
Other Uses
The leaves and the flowers yield 0.2% essential oil with a powerful nauseating odour[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
]. The oil contains 5% eugenol, which has a pleasant odour[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
]. The oil from plants growing in Africa has an agreeable odour, consisting almost entirely of eugenol[
240- Title
- Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
- Publisher
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
- Year
- 1986
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].
A decoction of the fresh plant is used as a hair wash, leaving the hair soft, fragrant and dandruff free[
283- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 92 9061 101 4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
].
Tannin extracts of goatweed showed insecticidal activity against flour beetles[
311- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
].
Propagation
Seed - sow late winter or early spring in a warm greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Prick out the seedlings when large enough to handle and plant out after the last expected frosts[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Seed can also be sown in situ in the spring and, for earlier blooms, it is possible to sow it in late summer or early autumn, though it will need to be overwintered in a warm greenhouse[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].