Diffuse Knapweed
Centaurea diffusa
- Native to:
- Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia-Slovakia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Krym, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Romania, Russia, Spain, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Ukraine
USDA Agricultural Research Service Archive, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Centaurea
- Species:
- Centaurea diffusa
- USDA Symbol:
- CEDI3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink, lavender
Host Plant for Caterpillars
brown-winged root borer (Pelochrista medullana)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis), White-shouldered bumble bee (Bombus appositus), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown after fire; fire can stimulate germination from soil seed bank.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- dry, sandy, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to arid and semi-arid regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment; light may enhance germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI