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Marcus, Joseph A.

Plectocephalus americanus

Plectocephalus americanus (Nutt.) D.Don

American Basket-flower, American Star-thistle, Basket-flower, Star Thistle, Shaving Brush, Basket Flower, American Basketflower

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Centaurea americana

USDA Symbol: PLAM3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

American Basket-flower is a 1-1/2 to 6 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.

From the Image Gallery

242 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall, often shorter.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AR , AZ , IA , IL , KS , MO , NM , NY , OK , RI , SC , TX , WI
Native Distribution: S.w. MO & e. KS, s. to LA, e. AZ & n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Woodlands' edge, Opening, Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannas

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , 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 Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Direct seed from late summer through fall.
Seed Collection: Collect seed early summer.
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 on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX

Bibliography

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
Bibref 1294 - 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

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Plectocephalus americanus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Plectocephalus americanus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Plectocephalus americanus

Metadata

Record Modified: 0000-00-00
Research By: Joseph A. Marcus

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