Please make sure JavaScript is enabled.
 
Greater Knapweed in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Centaurea scabiosa

 

Greater Knapweed

A tallish plant with raggedy petaled flowers from late Spring into late Summer. Centaurea is a genus of herbaceous, thistle-like flowering plants. There are many common names for this genus. 'Cornflowers' is often used for a few species, but it is generally reserved for varieties of C. cyanus which is sometimes also called 'basket flower'. Centaurea scabiosa thrives in poor dry soils in wildflower meadows and prairie style planting schemes.

Contributed by @urbangardengirl

 
plant Features
  • Greater Knapweed likes full sun

    Full sun

  • Greater Knapweed likes very little water

    Very little water

  • Greater Knapweed is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Greater Knapweed likes free draining and fertile

    Free draining and fertile

 
plant information

Common name

Greater Knapweed

Latin name

Centaurea scabiosa

type

Flowering plant

family

Asteraceae

ph

5.0 - 8.5 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Greater Knapweed likes full sun

    Full sun

  • Frost

    Greater Knapweed is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Soil

    Greater Knapweed likes free draining and fertile

    Free draining and fertile

  • Water

    Greater Knapweed likes very little water

    Very little water

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant
  •  
    When the plant will bloom

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Greater Knapweed is 0.30meters x 0.45meters 0.30 M 0.45 M

Centaurea scabiosa

A tallish plant with raggedy petaled flowers from late Spring into late Summer. Centaurea is a genus of herbaceous, thistle-like flowering plants. There are many common names for this genus. 'Cornflowers' is often used for a few species, but it is generally reserved for varieties of C. cyanus which is sometimes also called 'basket flower'. Centaurea scabiosa thrives in poor dry soils in wildflower meadows and prairie style planting schemes.


Planting Outdoors

From Early Spring TO Late Spring

Plant container grown plants into site having dug compost into the soil first.

 

Propagation by seed Spring

From Early Spring TO Mid Spring

Sow cornflower seeds outdoors where they are to grow from early spring. Choose a position in full sun on well drained soil which has been raked to a fine tilth. Sow seeds thinly, at a depth of 3mm (1/8") in drills spaced 30cm (12") apart. Water the ground regularly, especially during dry periods. Germination usually takes 14-21days. When cornflower seedlings are large enough to handle, thin them out to 15cm (6") apart. Alternatively, grow cornflowers indoors in early spring for early summer flowering next year. Sow cornflowers on the surface of a good quality seed compost at a temperature of 18-23C (65-73F) and cover with a very fine sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Do not exclude light as this helps germination. When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant and grow them on in cooler conditions until large enough to move outdoors.

 

Flowering

From Late Spring TO Late Summer

The flowers appear from late Spring to late Summer

 
Subscribe to GardenTags Premium to get personalised planting tasks and more for your entire plant collection
 
Gardeners who are growing this plant