Description
American basket flower (Centaurea americana) gets its common name from the intricate, overlapping scales that encircle the base of each powder-puff bloom, creating a basket-like effect. The large, thistle-like blooms, which close at night, tend to have white centers surrounded by a purplish pink outer ring. (It’s possible that some all-white blooms may appear too.) I’ve read the scent described as honey-sweet, but I don’t find it particularly noticeable unless I stick my nose right into the center of the flower, which is a perilous proposition due to the many bees wallowing among the slender petals. Butterflies are also frequent visitors. The blooms appear through summer atop stems that can top out anywhere from 2 to 5 feet tall (figure on the shorter side of that range in average soil and the taller side in rich, moist conditions). Native to the south-central US. Full sun. Annual.
Collected in August 2022. At least 15 seeds. Unknown ecotype.
Please read the germination information as well before ordering.
Terry T. (verified owner) –
Seeds sprouted as advertised. Unfortunately, the squirrels worked against me, digging in and around the seedlings despite all measures taken. Grrrr. I would purchase again–I’ll just put them in a different spot.