Centaurea Species, Cornflower, Perennial Bachelor Button, Red Knapweed

Centaureaatropurpurea

Family
Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Centaurea (sen-TAR-ee-uh)
Species
atropurpurea (at-ro-pur-PURR-ee-uh)
Synonym
Centaurea oliveriana
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Herbaceous
Height
12-18 in. (30-45 cm)
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Spacing
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
Bloom Color
Dark Purple/Black
Maroon/Burgundy
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other Details
Category
Perennials
Water Requirements
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Bronze
Where to Grow
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Bloom Characteristics
Flowers are good for cutting
Flowers are good for drying and preserving
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Seed Collecting
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Cicero, Indiana

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

0
positive
1
neutral
0
negative
Sort By:
Sort By:
C
ROSLINDALE, MA | January 2016 | neutral

Deep/wine red flowers in early summer may rebloom if deadheaded. Silvery, deeply divided foliage is good throughout the season.
...Read More

Featured
Little Blue Dragonlet
(Erythrodiplax minuscula)
California Gnatcatcher
(Polioptila californica)
Featured
Little Blue Dragonlet
(Erythrodiplax minuscula)
California Gnatcatcher
(Polioptila californica)