About
Centaurea cheiranthifolia is a herbaceous perennial that reaches a height of up to 45 cm. It features narrow, lanceolate leaves that are grey-green in hue. Blooming occurs from summer through early autumn, with flower buds surrounded by overlapping bracts that have hairy margins. The blossoms are large and range from creamy white to pale yellow, showcasing deep purple anthers.
About the genus
Centaurea includes annuals, perennials, and subshrubs, characterized by simple or pinnately lobed foliage and prominent flower heads resembling thistles, frequently featuring enlarged outer florets.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, Rock garden, Coastal, Wildlife gardens
- Native to
- Turkey, Caucasus, Iran
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in almost any well-drained soil in full sun. Thrives in poor soils but will not tolerate waterlogging
- Pruning
- Deadhead to encourage more flowers
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed, sown in containers in a cold frame in spring, or by division, separating rhizomes in autumn
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to downy mildews, powdery mildews and rust diseases