Botanical Name: Centaurea americana
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Common Name: Basket Flower  
Plant photo of: Centaurea americana
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Water Saving Tip:

Apply a layer of mulch around plants to reduce moisture loss.

Choose organic mulches, such as shredded bark, compost or aged sawdust.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Annual

 

Height Range

1-3', 3-6'

 

Flower Color

Blue, Orange, Pink, White

 

Flower Season

Spring, Summer

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Meadow, Ranch

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer

 

Location Uses

Perennial Border

 

Special Uses

Cut Flowers, Naturalizing

 

Attracts Wildlife

Butterflies

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer:

  • Description

  • Notes

Centaurea americana is a Texas native and is also native throughout most of North America. Basketflower gets it's name from the underneath side of the flower because it has a basket weave pattern to it. The flowers have fine petals like soft wires or filaments. Depending on seed source and variety, plants can stand from 1 to 4 feet tall and about half as wide. The plant looks similar to a thistle, but without the prickles. Flowers bloom May to June, but may reseed. Colors are soft pastels. A lovely cut flower, but bees and butterflies also really like them. Fragrant.
Grow in well drained soil; not particular as to character. Tolerates poor and dry soils. Grow in full sun. sometimes plants are available, but seed sources provide the greatest variety.