Centaurea Seeds 'Great Knapweed'

• Native British wildflower
• Gorgeous purple flowers in summer
• Grows well in poor soils
• Self-seeds liberally

A native British wildflower that thrives on neglect, Centaurea scabiosa (great knapweed) grows even in poor, dry soils, producing gorgeous thistle-like purple flowers that bees and other pollinators love to visit. It makes a beautiful addition to a wildlife-friendly border and will self-seed freely.

Sow indoors

Sow in trays of pre-watered seed compost and cover lightly. Keep at 15-20°C and allow 2 weeks for germination.

Grow on

When large enough to handle. transplant into 8cm pots. Slowly acclimatise to outdoor conditions before planting out after frosts.

Plant out

Choose a sunny spot in any well-drained soil. Plant approximately 25cm apart. Height may vary. For earlier flowering, sow in autumn and overwinter in a cold frame before planting out in spring. Self-seeds readily.