About
This deciduous clump-forming perennial with neat, deeply cut dark green foliage and erect, wiry stems to 45cm, bearing uneven flowerheads of smallish mauve-purple thistle-shaped flowers to 4cm long, in late summer. Compact and poised.
About the genus
Serratula are perennial plants with distinctly serrate but not spiny leaves, and knapweed-like heads of usually purplish flowers set in numerous, overlapping involucral bracts, often brownish and chaffy
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectWest-facing, East-facing, South-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitMatforming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesGravel garden, Cottage and informal garden
Native toFrance, Portugal, Spain
Care notes
CultivationGrow in well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed in autumn or spring, propagate by division in autumn or spring
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews