Centaurea cheiranthifolia
A herbaceous perennial to 45cm high, with narrow, lance-shaped grey-green leaves. Flowers from summer into early autumn, with buds encased in overlapping bracts with hairy edges, opening to large, showy creamy white to pale yellow flowers with deep purple anthers
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Grey Silver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | White Cream Yellow | Green Grey Silver | ||
| Autumn | White Cream Yellow | Green Grey Silver | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Centaurea may be annuals, perennials or subshrubs, with simple or pinnately lobed leaves and showy thistle-like flowers-heads, often with enlarged outer florets
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Turkey, Caucasus, Iran
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in almost any well-drained soil in full sun. Thrives in poor soils but will not tolerate waterlogging
Propagation
Propagate by seed, sown in containers in a cold frame in spring, or by division, separating rhizomes in autumn
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Rock garden
- Coastal
- Low Maintenance
- Banks and slopes
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
Deadhead to encourage more flowers
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
May be susceptible to downy mildews, powdery mildews and rust diseases
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