Yellow Star-Thistle
Centaurea solstitialis
- Native to:
- Albania, Algeria, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, East Aegean Is., Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kriti, Krym, Kuwait, Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Oman, Poland, Romania, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, Spain, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Centaurea
- Species:
- Centaurea solstitialis
- USDA Symbol:
- CESO3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Lobed Looper Moth (Megalographa biloba), Western yellowstriped armyworm (Spodoptera praefica), Mylitta crescent (Phyciodes mylitta), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Crotch bumble bee (Bombus crotchii), Pyrobombus Dalla, Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), van Dyke bumble bee (Bombus vandykei), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) Butterflies:Common Checkered-skipper (Burnsius communis), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Woodland Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanoides)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Increases after fire due to reduced competition; seeds survive low-intensity fires.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- poor, well-drained, sandy or rocky soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in disturbed soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily after cold stratification; light may enhance germination.