Centaurea scabiosa (Greater Knapweed)

Centaurea scabiosa (Greater Knapweed)
Centaurea scabiosa (Greater Knapweed)
  • Plant Details

    Aspect: Full Sun

    Soil Type: Most Types

    Colour: Purple

Centaurea scabiosa (Greater Knapweed)

This British native wildflower grows in dry chalky grasslands, roadsides, hedgerows and cliffs throughout the UK. Purple-red flowers on tall, strong stems, in June, July and August.

The species is very valuable to bees and attracts many species of butterfly, such as the Marbled White, Painted Lady and Green-veined White, to name but a few, as well as moths and hoverflies.

Grow in a wildflower meadow or wildlife area or in a bed or border.

Makes an excellent cut flower.

Height and Spread: 75cm x 45cm.

Common names: Greater Knapweed; Ironhead; Black Top; Churls Head; Hardhead; Logger Head; Horse Knops; Bottleweed; Bullweed.

Synonym: Centaurea scabiosa var. petrophila

The flower head is a hard, solid mass, giving the plant local names such as Ironhead and Hardhead. The name Knapweed also comes from this feature, 'knap' being derived from knop or knob.

In some areas of Britain, it was traditional to give the flowers to the recently bereaved.

 

Photo: Michael Apel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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