Centaurea
Knapweed
Centaurea’s heritage extends all the way back to ancient Greek mythology when Achilles’s wise teacher, Chiron the Centaur was wounded by one of Hercules’ poisoned arrows and subsequently cured by this herb’s miraculous healing powers.
Equally at home in a present day border or a more naturalized setting, our hardy undemanding selections paint a bright picture inside as well. The long lasting boisterous blooms are celebrated cut flowers, bringing high-spirited accents to both fresh and dried arrangements.
Appreciative of well draining “sweet” soil, the ever amenable Knapweed withstands some drought, but not wet, wintertime feet.
Centaurea montana ‘Black Sprite’ (P-1928)
Each 11.25
Coveted by florists, bees and butterflies, the silken starburst of finely fringed blackberry-colored petals and embroidered dark buds creates an arresting contrast against silver-haired, gray-green lanceolate foliage. ‘Black Sprite’s exotic, long-blooming tubular flowers sojourn on upright stems above a low growing leafy mound that tolerates dry conditions once established and prefers good drainage plus slightly alkaline soil as well as a periodic cutback. (pp #23,250)
Blooms May–June
Size: 18" high x 18" – 2' 0" wide.
Hardy to zone 3.
Please fill out our Registration Form to receive news of updates to the web site, availability of new plants, give us your feedback, and to be on the mailing list to receive future printed catalogs.
