Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Asteraceae / Compositae ⟩ Centaurea scabiosa / greater knapweed

Centaurea scabiosa L.

greater knapweed (Asteraceae / Compositae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadModerate tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Centaurea scabiosa is a plant of calcareous grasslands found across much of England, but rarer in Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

Oberösterreich, Austria; 2006-12-03

 greater knapweed / Centaurea scabiosa: _Centaurea scabiosa_ is a plant of calcareous grasslands found across much of England, but rarer in Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

The leaves of Centaurea scabiosa are divided into a small number of rounded lobes, (except in C. scabiosa var. succisifolia).

Beckley (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2015-06-07

 greater knapweed / Centaurea scabiosa: The leaves of _Centaurea scabiosa_ are divided into a small number of rounded lobes, (except in _C. scabiosa_ var. _succisifolia_).

White-flowering plants are occasionally encountered.

Hartslock (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2015-07-06

 greater knapweed / Centaurea scabiosa: White-flowering plants are occasionally encountered.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne