RE: centaurea macrocephala and centaurea gigantea

Hi Susan,    I am wondering if the above listed Centaurea gigantea could be
Cephalaria gigantea.   It grows to about 7' in my garden with creamy yellow
Scabiosa-like flowers on long willowy stems.  Foliage is large, toothed and
coarse with a definite Centaurea appearance.  At one time its botanical name
was Scabiosa tartarica.  It was one of the most popular plants blooming
during spring sale weekends.
Marilyn Dube'
Natural Design Plants
Hardy Perennials, Choice Tropicals
Portland, OR   Zone 8b

-----Original Message-----
From:	owner-perennials@mallorn.com [owner-perennials@mallorn.com] On
Behalf Of Saxton, Susan
Sent:	Tuesday, July 20, 1999 10:57 AM
To:	'perennials'
Subject:	centaurea macrocephala and centaurea gigantea

Centaurea gigantea is only in it's second year in my garden.  I had only
read about it as having yellow, scabiosa (pincushion) like flowers, and
between yellow and scabiosa as a description I was sold.  Last year the
plant just grew in my garden; didn't do much.

This year it is blooming and I will definitely add more of this apparently
care-free perennial to my beds.  This plant is tall, I'd guess about 8'?
But it's not a solid mass.  The growth habit is more open and airy, similar
to verbena bonariensis, if you're familiar with that.  There are large basal
leaves, but then thin, airy stems rise to the 8' heigh, and atop are the
baby yellow pincusion flowers.  I have this growing with a rose, Therese
Bugnet, who herself gets about 8' in height with perfect-pink flowers, as
well as a vitex agnus castus shrub (wonderful blue flower spikes in late
summer -- the bees adore this one).  I can't comment yet on how long the
plant blooms, but I'll keep you posted.

As Mikey says, "Try 'em, you'll like 'em!"

Susan Saxton, zone 6b

For mine is a little old-fashioned garden where the flowers come together to
praise the Lord and teach all who look upon them to do likewise.
Celia Thaxter

I AM in shape.  ROUND is a shape!

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