Knapweed, mountain and snowflake

The knapweed (Centaurea), which originally comes from America and now mainly occurs in Europe, in the Mediterranean region or in the Middle East. The cornflower is also one of these species.

Within the knapweed family there are annual, biennial and perennial varieties. They can reach heights of between 20 cm and 3 meters and appear in a wide variety of forms. Please note: Knapweed can be regionally protected and may not be picked!

Peculiarities of knapweed

Basically, every knapweed, no matter what kind it is, shows its flower in the so-called head shape. That means they show at least ten flowers and the small leaves are attached with small appendages. Only at the

Carduoidea - Plants of a subfamily - they are tubular flowers. The knapweed is most common in Central Europe as a cornflower, but this is in decline due to monoculture. The meadow knapweed is also common - depending on the region, you can find the scabious knapweed and the black knapweed.

Example: mountain knapweed

The mountain knapweed (Centaurea montana) also belongs to the knapweed family. It reaches an average height of between 20cm and 50cm and forms a so-called single-headed stem. It has oval leaves with a smooth edge that look slightly greyish and rough. While the petals are red with blue border colors, the bracts are green.

Centaurea montana is a perennial plant, which according to its name is found in the mountains of central to southern Europe. There it can be found at altitudes between 500 meters and 2,200 meters. It can be found most frequently in the subalpine levels of the mountains, for example in Austria in the so-called upper montane layers of Styria or Carinthia. She loves light forests and fresh meadows. In these locations it blooms between May and August.

Knapweed varieties in the garden

Knapweed can also be planted in your own garden by sowing. The best known is the annual cornflower, the more wild variety is the mountain knapweed. Spring is the right time for sowing and the seeds can be sown in the cold frame from March. A few weeks later she is also available in garden centers as container plant available and can be planted out in this form in the garden at any time. Its pastel colored flowers in shades of pink to blue enrich every flower bed. The flowers appear between May and July.

As a location in the garden, a bed with nutrient-rich soil and a sunny location are just right. The knapweed does not make any more demands on its place. The knapweed looks very nice in a cottage garden, where it goes well with the other typical flowers such as lady's mantle, delphiniums or lupins.

The mountain knapweed comes in several variants, they also differ in the color of their flowers. The white mountain knapweed, for example, tolerates a dry phase and blooms again and again during the summer. The pink mountain knapweed even smells like peaches and is therefore particularly popular with lovers of fragrant plants in the garden. Since the mountain knapweed not only comes in different colors, but also in different growth heights, you should also take a look at this detail. This means that the bed in the background can also be planted, for example, so the garden owner has the best possible space planted and can be not only at different times, but also across different species of mountain knapweed be happy.

The high-growing and purple-red variety is particularly suitable for background planting Centaurea montana "Merel", which is not only the darkest of its kind but also tall-growing. It can grow up to half a meter high and also develops a lovely scent, especially in the sun. Also the C Montana "Purple Rose", which produces not so dark, but rather lilac and slightly feathered flowers, can be planted in the background bed due to a similar height.

The size Centaurea macrocephala - also known as giant knapweed - almost looks like one artichoke. The large flower heads sit on thick stems and shine in a bright yellow. It can reach heights of up to 150 cm. The stems can be cut off and incorporated into autumn bouquets. The individual varieties at a glance:

• Mountain knapweed in blue
• Dark knapweed
• light yellow variety especially for planting on slopes
• Caucasian knapweed, suitable for a wild garden
• Red mountain knapweed, a rare form
• Giant-flowered knapweed
• Wig knapweed with "blond" hairs on the outside of the flower heads

care in the garden

When planting knapweeds in the home garden, they should be placed in the location that best suits their species. This should be as sunny to semi-shady as possible, although semi-shade is not as favorable for flowering as sun. The soil of the site should be nutritious, so it is advisable to add compost to it in the spring. Of course, when knapweed is sown, spring is the best time. From March, the seeds can be sown in the cold frame, direct sowing in the flower bed however, it only makes sense from May onwards. If you buy a container plant in a garden shop, it can be planted at any frost-free time of the year. Due to their petite size, the corresponding short-growing varieties are at their best when planted in a group.

Removing faded parts can encourage new blooms. A radical pruning after flowering can also encourage lush growth. If stems are cut off for the vase, you get a long fresh bloom in the living room.

Knapweeds are not only hard-working and grateful bloomers, they are also resistant to pests. Only when there have been more rainy days and less sunny days during the year can the knapweed be attacked by powdery mildew.

Editor's conclusion

Because of its variety, the knapweed is a plant that can be planted in the garden to suit everyone's taste. Wild plants should not be dug up. You can either sow them or buy them as young plants in containers. They are easily propagated by dividing the rootstock. Depending on the variety of knapweed, it can be used in different ways in a garden. Here, however, the preference for sun and a nutrient-rich soil should be considered.

Tips for speed readers

• There are many different varieties of knapweed.
• They reach heights of growth from 20 cm, the largest is 150 cm high.
• The variety of colors ranges from yellow to pink, lilac, violet to crimson.
• The annual cornflower is the best known of the family.
• Knapweeds are perennial.
• They can be used by seed or as young plants.
• They can be propagated by root division.
• They love sun and nutrient-rich soil.
• Knapweed is suitable for natural gardens, cottage gardens, gravel gardens, flower meadows, flower beds and much more.

Worth knowing about the cornflower in brief

• A common kind of knapweed in this country are the cornflower and the meadow knapweed. All species have a wildflower character. The cornflower comes from Sicily and was probably spread with grain as early as the pile-dwelling period, especially in and around cornfields.
• The soil should be well drained, calcareous and rich in humus for the cornflower.
• The flower prefers a sunny to semi-shady sheltered spot.
• The plant temporarily tolerates a little drought, but should otherwise be watered regularly.
• Avoid wetting the leaves when watering mildew to prevent
• If necessary, the cornflower can also cope with heavy soil.
• Tall species are best supported with a perennial holder so that they do not fall over.
• Propagation is by sowing outdoors in spring or autumn. You can do that too perennials split.

The flowers of the cornflower can be used for reddened eyelids or tired eyes by preparing an infusion for a compress. It can also be used as a bath additive for delicate, easily reddening skin.

Learn more about summer flowers