Centaurea montana (Bachelors Buttons)

Centaurea montana (Bachelors Buttons)



bachelor's buttonsPronunciation: sen-tore-EE-uh mon-TAY-nuh

Family: Asteraceae
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Zone: 3
Origin: Europe 
……..
Mature size
  Height: 40-70cm
  Spread: 60-100cm
Habit: arching, spreading, mounding
Form: oval horizontal 
Texture: medium
Exposure - full sun, part sun
Preferred soil - well drained
Landscape uses - attracts insects, perennial border, rock garden, invasive 
……..
Leaves
Arrangement: simple alternate 
Shape: elliptic, lanceolate, ovate
Size: 7-16 cm
Margin: margin 
Characteristics: pinnate venation, soft flexible, pubescent 
Colour: green
………
Flowers
Inflorescence type: capitulum, head
Colour: purple, blue
Size: 3-6 cm
Time: April - July
………
Stem
Colour: Green
Description: spreading
………
Fruit type: Achene
Colour: Brown
Time: August, September
………
Propagation - seed, division
Comments - very invasive, The name Bachelor Button comes from bachelors wearing the flowers in a jacket button hole to let the ladies know they were single.

Pests - blight, mold, mildew, needle cast

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