About

This perennial develops a dense rosette of pinnately lobed leaves at its base. During the summer, it produces tall, branched stems that support light yellow flower heads measuring up to 6 cm in diameter.

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
Wildlife gardens
Native to
Caucasus to Turkey

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow in a fertile moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Needs staking in exposed gardens.
Pruning
Cut back after flowering
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame in early spring or propagate by division in spring
Pest resistance
Generally pest-free
Disease resistance
Generally disease-free