Centaurea gymnocarpa
“Velvet Centaurea”

You may recognize this plant if you frequent our retail nursery – it’s inhabited a very dry spot in our parking lot & has been neglected there for many years, but it never seems to look too worse for wear! Ever-grey, deer resistant & very drought tolerant, it grows 3-4’ tall and as much as 8’ across (though it’s easy to prune smaller) & it blooms for the better part of Spring – great big fluffy 2” purple flowers on long, white stems over elegantly divided leaves. Great for cutting & wildlife too! CLAY AND SHADE TOLERANT! Great choice for hillsides, neglected side yards, as well as any dryish garden. Hardy to 15-20° F.

Claire Woods
Propagator