Centaurea macrocephala
Great golden knapweed, Globe centaurea
- Height × spread
- 1m × 0.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is a handsome plant, which can reach up to 1.5m (5ft) in height in the best conditions. Long, oblong-shaped wavy edged leaves ascend the sturdy flowering stalks. They form a surround to the golden yellow thistle-like flowers, which appear from mid- to late summer and send the bees crazy. There are not many flowers on each plant, they don't last long and after flowering the foliage deteriorates. So this is not a suitable plant for a prime border position. You could try growing it with an autumn flowering aster in front to hide the wreckage.
- Flower colour
- Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 1m
- Spread
- 0.5m
- Season of interest
- Summer
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Prairie garden, Cottage garden
- 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
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Bee attraction, Butterfly 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
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Centaurea 'Amethyst on Ice'
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Centaurea 'Caramia'
Knapweed, Star thistle
Centaurea 'Jordy'
Knapweed
Centaurea 'Silver Feather'
Silver Feather knapweed
Centaurea bella
Beautiful knapweed