About
Cephalaria alpina is a perennial plant that can reach heights of up to 1.8 meters. It features divided, serrated leaves that are covered in fine hairs. The robust, upright stems support clusters of pale yellow-cream flowerheads, which have a distinctive pincushion shape, blooming during the summer months.
About the genus
Cephalaria consists of either annual or perennial plants characterized by their pinnately divided foliage and flower heads resembling those of scabious.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing, East-facing, North-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden
- Native to
- Alps
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in a fertile, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Needs staking in exposed gardens; see staking perennials for further advice
- Pruning
- Cut back after flowering
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed or by division
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free