Lesser Knapweed Seed

Centaurea nigra

£3.00 inc. VAT

Common Knapweed, Centaurea nigra is also known as Hardheads. Purple thistle-like flowers in May to September followed by hard slightly prickly seed-heads. The plant itself has no prickles. Insect friendly.

 

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SKU: cennig Category:

Description

Centaurea nigra

Lesser Knapweed is a tough and tolerant wild flower. It is an important nectar source for Bees, Large Skipper, Gatekeeper, Small Copper, Painted Lady butterflies and some moths.
The purple thistle-like flowers are held above slightly hairy foliage all summer. Goldfinches visit the hard dark seedheads in the autumn to eat the seed.
It will grow anywhere except damp or acid soils and deep shade. Needs open soil to seed itself, but is generally a long-lived perennial. At home in meadows, on field margins, hedgerow bottoms and the middle of herbaceous borders! Also known as Hardheads or Paintbrush.

Sow any time of year, either directly or into good quality seed compost. Cover lightly with grit or fine compost and keep moist. A more even germination should result if seed is mixed with damp sand and kept in the fridge for a prechill of about 4weeks

 

Seed from Shropshire

 

Additional information

Weight 5.00 g
Size

Seed pack (approx 1250 seed)

Genus

Centaurea

Family

Compositae

Flowering Month

June

Colour

purple

Hardiness

Hardy

Life Cycle

perennial

Interest

flowers

Wildlife

yes

Requires

sun

Native

yes