Centaurea scabiosa

Centaurea scabiosa is a beautiful wild flower that is found in almost all of Europe, mainly on limestone and dry soils. It is a very easy-to-grow perennial plant that forms a beautiful clump of sturdy upright stems with deeply divided leaves. It is adorned in summer with large purplish flowers, visited by bees and butterflies. It can be sown in April-May or October-November, directly in well-prepared soil.

Centaurea scabiosa is known by different common names depending on the region for example blacktop. It is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Asteraceae family, just like cornflower. Depending on the soil fertility, this Centaurea can reach between 30 cm (12in) and 1.20 m (4ft) in height, averaging 70-75 cm (28-30in). It is composed of branching stems. The leaves are generally deeply divided up to the middle into oval or lanceolate segments. Only the leaves at the base of the stems have a petiole. Flowering takes place from June to August and lasts about two months. At the end of the branches, flowers organised in heads measuring between 3 and 5 cm (1 and 2in) in diameter appear. Each head is composed of numerous ligulate tubular flowers, with a colour that is a mix of purplish pink and purplish violet. This flowering is very attractive to bees and butterflies. After pollination, fruits form. These are cocoa-pod-shaped achenes measuring 3 to 5 mm (0.2in) that bear double egret-like appendages. The wind will disperse them, allowing the plant to self-seed in the surrounding area.

Centaurea scabiosa enchants flower beds and borders, where they create remarkable patches of colour. They bring the charm of the countryside to our gardens and promote biodiversity, without requiring much maintenance. Sow them in rustic beds, in meadows or in a dedicated strip for wildflowers. This Centaurea scabiosa will look sublime in combination with ornamental grasses like Stipa tenuifolia or Mulhenbergia capillaris, catmints, and with nigellas.