Centaurea
Knapweed, Star thistle
- Height × spread
- 0.25m – 1.5m × 0.1m – 1.2m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Generally available in Spring & Summer
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
Classic cottage garden plants with their shaggy picturesque flowers, perhaps none more characterful than the 'montana' forms with their spikily slender petals and red tinted centres, both quaint and stylish. There is showy 'macrocephala' with its classy thrusting head of yellow, beige-bracted flowers. Then the more robust, spreading forms such as 'dealbata, and 'hypoleuca'. These plants are bought for their charm and enjoy sunshine and well drained soil, being very tolerant of drought when established.
- Flower colour
- Blue, Lilac, Mauve, Pink, Purple, Red, Rose, White, Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Blue, Green, Grey, Yellow
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes, some varieties
- Shape
- Bell, Column, Cube, Dome, Fan
- Height
- 0.25m – 1.5m
- Spread
- 0.1m – 1.2m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Wild flower meadow, Seaside garden, Scented garden, Rock garden, Prairie garden, Mediterranean garden, Gravel garden, Cottage garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Poor soil, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, some are not hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover, Bedding plant, Bee attraction, Butterfly attraction, Bird attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Feed a general fertiliser
Where plants have moderate needs for nutrients, they can simply be given a general feed, fairly early in the growth season so that the growth has plenty of time to harden off before the cold weather.
Give plants a general boost with the application of a general purpose fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plant, with amounts as directed on the feed label.
Found in
More Centaurea
Centaurea 'John Coutts'
John Coutts cornflower, Cornflower
Centaurea montana
Mountain knapweed, Perennial cornflower, Mountain bluet, Perennial bachelor's buttons
Centaurea 'Amethyst on Ice'
Knapweed, Star thistle
Centaurea 'Caramia'
Knapweed, Star thistle
Centaurea 'Jordy'
Knapweed
Centaurea 'Silver Feather'
Silver Feather knapweed
Centaurea bella
Beautiful knapweed
Centaurea cineraria subsp. cineraria
Dusty miller