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Centaurea nigra - L.

Common Name Black Knapweed, Lesser knapweed
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Grassland, waysides, cliffs etc to 600 metres[17].
Range Western Europe, including Britain, from Spain to Norway, east to Germany and Switzerland.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Centaurea nigra Black Knapweed, Lesser knapweed


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Centaurea_nigra_Sturm24.jpg
Centaurea nigra Black Knapweed, Lesser knapweed
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Xemenendura

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Centaurea nigra is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Meadow; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers
Edible Uses:

Flower petals - raw. Added to salads[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Diaphoretic  Diuretic  Tonic

The roots and seeds are diaphoretic, diuretic, tonic and vulnerary[4, 61]. The plant once had a very high reputation as a healer of wounds[4].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1, 200]. Prefers a well-drained fertile soil and a sunny position[200]. Tolerates dry, low fertility and alkaline soils[200]. Established plants are tolerant of considerable neglect, thriving and even self-sowing in dense weed growth[K]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow April 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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Hardhead, lesser knapweed, common knapweed, black knapweed.

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

America, Australia, Britain, Europe, North America, Tasmania.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

This plant can be weedy or invasive. Native to Europe; as an introduced species in other areas it can be a noxious weed. Washington, US - Class B noxious weed, Noxious weed seed and plant quarantine.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Centaurea acaulis Perennial0.0 -  LMHNDM001
Centaurea calcitrapaCommon Star Thistle, Red star-thistleBiennial0.6 0-0  LMHNDM11 
Centaurea chamaerhaponticum  0.0 -  LMHNDM20 
Centaurea cyanusCornflower, Garden cornflower, Blue Bottle, CornflowerAnnual1.0 0-0 FLMHNDM222
Centaurea depressaIranian knapweedAnnual/Perennial0.3 6-9  LMHNDM20 
Centaurea ibericaIberian Star Thistle, Iberian knapweedBiennial0.9 5-9  LMHNDM120
Centaurea jaceaBrown KnapweedPerennial0.6 5-9  LMHNDM110
Centaurea melitensisMaltese Star ThistleAnnual0.5 6-9  LMHNDM010
Centaurea montanaMountain Cornflower, Perennial cornflower, Mountain BluetPerennial0.5 3-9 FLMHNDM023
Centaurea raphanina Perennial0.0 -  LMHNDM10 
Centaurea scabiosaGreater KnapweedPerennial0.9 4-8  LMHNDM02 
Centaurea solstitialisSt. Barnaby's Thistle, Yellow star-thistleAnnual/Biennial0.6 5-9  LMHNDM110

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

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Botanical References

17200

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Subject : Centaurea nigra  
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