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Marcus, Joseph A.
Centaurea americana Nutt.
American star-thistle, Basket-Flower, Star thistle, Shaving brush, American basket-flower
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
USDA Symbol: ceam2
USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.
American basket-flower is a 1 1/2-5 ft. annual with a stout, leafy, much-branched stem and lavender-pink, filamentous flower heads with cream-colored centers. The flower heads are 4-5 in. wide and are subtended by fringed bracts. The plant looks similar to the thistles but lacks their prickly characteristics
The name basket flower refers to the stiff, straw-colored bracts just beneath the flower head, which are divided at the tip into long, sharp teeth.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , PinkBloom Time: May , Jun
Distribution
USA: AR , AZ , IA , IL , KS , MO , NM , NY , OK , RI , SC , TX , WINative Distribution: S.w. MO & e. KS, s. to LA, e. AZ & n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Woodlands edge, Opening, Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannahs
USDA Native Status: L48(N)
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Soil Description: Dry to mesic soils. Sandy Loam, Clay Loam, Medium Loam.
Conditions Comments: Has a sweet, honey fragrance and makes brilliant cut flowers. The plant resembles the thistles but lacks their prickly characteristics. This is a showy, easily cultivated wildflower.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: This is a showy, easily cultivated wildflower.Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Propagation
Propagation Material: SeedsDescription: Direct seed from late summer through fall.
Seed Collection: Collect seed early summer.
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Order seed of this species from Native American Seed and help support the Wildflower Center.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Herbarium Specimen(s)
NPSOT 0016 Collected May 17, 1990 in Bexar County by Judith C. BerryNPSOT 0399 Collected Jun 1, 1993 in Comal County by Mary Beth White
NPSOT 0055 Collected May 18, 1990 in Bexar County by Lottie Millsaps
Wildflower Center Seed Bank
LBJWC-645 Collected 2008-06-17 in Burnet County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterBibliography
Bibref 765 - McMillen's Texas Gardening: Wildflowers (1998) Howard, D.Bibref 281 - Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F...
Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
* The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Recommended Species Lists
Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.
View Recommended Species pageAdditional resources
USDA: Find Centaurea americana in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Centaurea americana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Centaurea americana
Metadata
Record Modified: 2012-12-07Research By: TWC Staff
