Greater Knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa)

Uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The roots and seeds are diaphoretic, diuretic, tonic and vulnerary^[7]. The plant once had a very high reputation as an ingredient of the Medieval 'salve', an ointment applied to heal wounds and treat skin infections^[7]^[6].

Product or use: Diuretic

Product or use: Tonic

Product or use: Vulnerary

Environment

Range

Much of Europe, including Britain, north to 68° N., east to the Caucasus and W. Asia.

Habitat

Pastures, field edges and roadsides, usually on chalk^[7]^[2].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

no shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 4+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline

Drainage

well drained

Tolerances

drought

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

Drought

tolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. Division in autumn. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or following spring. This should be done at least once every three years in order to maintain the vigour of the plant. Basal cuttings in spring. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Cultivation

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil^[1]^[3]. Prefers a well-drained fertile soil and a sunny position^[3]. Tolerates dry, low fertility and alkaline soils^[3]. Does well in the summer meadow^[5]. An important nectar plant for bees and butterflies^[5]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer^[4].

References

F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

↩

Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

↩

Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

↩1 ↩2 ↩3

Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

↩

Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.

↩1 ↩2

Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148