Description
Knautia –
There are 60 species of annuals and perennials in this genus. Found from limestone grassland, scrub, and woodland in Europe, Caucasus, Russia, and North Africa. They have over wintering rosettes of simple to pinnatifid basal leaves, and opposite pairs of stem leaves, which are pinnatifid or simple. Tall stems bear cup shaped involucres of bracts, surrounding dense, bluish lilac or reddish purple flower heads. They are attractive to bees. Grow in a herbaceous border, cottage garden, or wild garden.
Grow in moderately fertile, well drained, preferably alkaline soil in full sun or part shade.
Prone to aphids.
K. tatarica – This clump forming biennial from Eastern Russia grows 6’ feet tall and 3’ feet wide., From hairy lower stems it carries pinnatifid, toothed, mid green leaves, to 10” long, with oblong-elliptic lobes. From mid summer to early autumn it bears flat topped, long lasting, bright yellow flowers heads, to 1 ½” across, with softly bristly, involucres bracts.
Zones 5-9
