Feather-Head Knapweed

Centaurea trichocephala

Native to:
Iran, Kazakhstan, North Caucasus, Romania, Russia, Ukraine
Feather-Head Knapweed

Dmitriy Bochkov (www.inaturalist.org)

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Centaurea
Species:
Centaurea trichocephala
USDA Symbol:
CETR12

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
60 cm
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
jun,jul,aug
Bloom Colors:
pink, purple

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies
Deer Resistant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rocky, well-drained calcareous soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to rocky slopes and calcareous areas

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
14–28 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate readily at 15-20°C after cold stratification.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI