Centaurea macrocephala

Giant Knapweed is a tall plant with large, bright yellow flowers that call in the pollinators. It is one of the best plants you cant grow for bees and butterflies, but it can be tricky to incorporate into the garden. It is extremely tall with ramrod straight stems and large, coarse leaves. Easily overtakes other plants (including lawn grass!) and should be sited carefully. Prefers moist soil in full sun or part shade. Takes a few years to strongly establish. Deer and rabbit resistant.

The enormous buds and flowers look beautiful in arrangements, fresh cut or dried.

Zones: 3 to 7
Family: Asteraceae
Type: Perennial
Height: 36 to 48 in.
Spread: 18 to 24 in.
Exposure: Full sun
Soil Conditions: well-drained, average
Bloom Time: July to September
Bloom Color: Golden
Native Range: Caucasus

Image Credits:

• Image 1 (bloom) Julie Anne Workman, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
• Image 2 (field) Dwight Sipler from Stow, MA, USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons