Photo By jamie-aa , used under CC-BY /Cropped and compressed from original

How to Grow and Care for Centaury

Centaury, also known as Knapweeds, Loggerheads, Centory, Cornflowers

The plant centaury thrives in well-drained soil and requires full sun exposure. A key care point is to ensure adequate watering without over-saturating the soil, especially during dry periods. Additionally, deadheading spent blooms can promote prolonged flowering and healthier growth.

Watering schedule: Every week

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Centaury

Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Annual, Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every week
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil Type	Garden Soil
Soil pH	6-7
Hardiness Zones	3-9

A Botanist in Your Pocket

Scan QR code to download

Types of Centaury

Cornflower

Centaurea cyanus is known by several names, like cornflower and bachelor’s button. This flower has a beautiful blue color that was a favorite of famed Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer. Today it is a Crayola crayon color as well as an HTML color name. The color is defined as a medium to light blue that contains very little green.

Perennial cornflower

Grown as a garden plant and as a cut flower, the perennial cornflower is a flowering plant endemic to the mountainous meadows and woodlands of Europe. Despite being inedible, this plant is widely utilized for medical purposes in Central Europe. It has grown invasive in British Columbia. Bees, butterflies, moths, and other pollinators are attracted to this plant.

Velvet centaurea

Velvet centaurea (Centaurea cineraria) is an evergreen perennial that will grow from 15 to 61 cm tall. Thrives in full sun to partial shade. Blooms in summer with white or yellow flowers. Grown for its gray-green foliage, which contrasts beautifully with darker green plants in the garden. Oftentimes, flowers are trimmed away to encourage thicker leaf growth.

Brown knapweed

Brown knapweed (Centaurea jacea) is a perennial flowering plant that grows in woodland clearings, yards, ditches, and pastures. Brown knapweed is native to Europe. This plant is categorized as an invasive species in most places where it grows.

Greater knapweed

Greater knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa) is a perennial herb native to grasslands, hedgerows, cliffs, and other lime-rich soils of Europe. Its flowerheads are reminiscent of thistle flowers, only more delicate. It is a highly valuable plant for bees and butterflies.