About
This perennial grows upright to approximately 1.5 meters, featuring branched stems and greyish-green leaves that are broadly lanceolate, reaching lengths of up to 25 centimeters. From mid to late summer, it produces reddish-purple flower heads that can grow to 5 centimeters in diameter, typically characterized by larger outer florets.
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
- West-facing, South-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 1-1.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Wildlife gardens, Wildflower meadow, Cottage and informal garden
- Native to
- Europe, Temperate Asia
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Prefers well-drained soil in a sunny position. Especially tolerant of dry alkaline soils
- Pruning
- Self-seeds readily so prune after flowering if seed is not required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed in spring, or propagate by division in spring or autumn
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to Powdery mildews