Common Centaury

Common Centaury is a charming, native UK biennial often grown as an annual. It is a delicate-looking but sturdy plant that produces clusters of small, five-petalled, bright pink star-like flowers with yellow centers. The flowers are unique in that they only open in bright sunshine and close by mid-afternoon. Reaching 10-30cm in height, it has a simple, stiffly upright stem and a basal rosette of leaves. In the garden, it is perfect for a chalk or gravel garden, or for naturalising in a sunny, dry meadow. It is a fantastic plant for supporting local biodiversity, as it is a nectar source for many small butterflies and bees. It is remarkably drought-tolerant once established and prefers alkaline, well-drained soils. While often found in the wild on dunes and heaths, it makes an understated and lovely addition to a rockery or the front of a wildflower border. Sowing should be done in situ in spring or autumn.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Well-drained, alkaline or neutral soil.

Hardiness: H4 — down to −10°C.

Flowering: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.