Centaurea jacea - Organic perennial

The knotweed (Centaurea jacea) is a herbaceous plant of the composite family (Compositae or Asteraceae). A synonym is Centaurea thuillieri.

In the Netherlands (with the exception of Drenthe) and Flanders, it is a common plant of roadsides and other rough places.

The perennial plant grows to a height of 30-70 cm. The upper leaves are undivided and alternate along the stem. The lower leaves are usually curved to feathery.

The flower heads are 2-4 cm wide. They consist of pink to reddish purple tubular flowers. The outer flowers are enlarged and sterile. They look like ribbon flowers because they are enlarged and stand to one side. The spinous leaves in the upper half have a separate, prickly appendage. The flowering period is from June to autumn.
The species grows on fairly moist, moderately nutrient-rich soil. It is often found in verges and other more or less grassy areas. The species has a preference for loamy soil. Its range covers Eurasia, with an emphasis on the temperate and southern regions. (Source: wikipedia)


BIO-NL-01