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Centaurea stoebe

Centaurea stoebe

Product number: 580345
Origin: Central, Southern and Eastern Europe.
Latin: Centaurea stoebe

This exceptionally hardy, sun-loving plant stands out with its elegant grey-green foliage and blooms from July well into autumn with a profusion of lilac-purple flowers.

Because its flowering period lasts so long, it is an essential food source for bees and butterflies at a time when other plants have already finished blooming. Thanks to its deep roots, the spotted knapweed is extremely drought-tolerant and thrives in poor, sandy soil.

The plant is fully winter hardy and self-sows subtly, so you can enjoy a vibrant, buzzing garden year after year. In Dutch nature, this unique river plant is now very rare and is officially listed as 'Vulnerable' on the Dutch Red List.

Names:

Latin: Centaurea stoebe
Dutch: Rijncentaurie
English: Spotted knapweed

Sowing method: Year-round in a seed tray, first give 2-4 weeks of warmth (18-22°C), then a cold period, for example in the refrigerator (+4°C) for 4-6 weeks, then slowly warm up to room temperature again, after which germination will follow. The seeds germinate irregularly over a longer germination period. Therefore, do not discard the seedlings too quickly. Sowing directly into the ground is also an option; simply let them overwinter, and germination will occur in the spring.

Sowing/planting time: