Add long-blooming knautia to your naturalized landscape and enjoy the whimsical pincushion-like blooms all summer long.
Its wiry stems dance in the wind and are topped with pincushion-like crimson flowers.
However, the seedlings are a cinch to remove when they are young.
Perry L. Struse.
This unfussy plant blooms from early summer into fall, producing months of garden color and bouquet-worthy blossoms.
Where to Plant Knautia
Knautia needs full sun and well-drained slightly alkaline soil.
The easy-to-grow perennial is perfect forcottage and wildflower gardensor places where whimsyand not orderis preferred.
Perry L. Struse.
SomeKnautia macedonicavarieties are dwarf-like and tidy while other are tall (18 to 24 inches) and floppy.
The upright but relaxed varieties look right at home in naturalized landscapes,meadowscapes, andprairie gardens.
Dwarf varieties are perfect for sunny garden borders or containers.
Credit: Mark Kane
Thanks to knautias nectar and pollen-rich flowers, its also a welcome addition topollinator gardens.
Expect bees and butterflies to visit frequently when your garden is in bloom.
Plus, if the blooms are left unattended, seedheads will form and provide an appealing snack for birds.
Denny Schrock.
In the spring, dig a hole slightly deeper and twice as wide as the plants container.
If planting more than one knautia plant, place them 18 to 24 inches apart.
Water plants regularly during the first growing season.
Dean Schoeppner.
Knautia seeds require a little more patience but can be planted in late winter or early spring.
Moisten the top layers of soil and, if necessary, work in a little compost.
Scatter the seeds on the surface in a sunny location.
Sprinkle only a light layer of soil to cover as the seeds need ample light to germinate.
Knautia Care Tips
Knautia is an easy-to-grow, clump-forming perennial native to southeastern Europe.
It is short-lived but will readily self-seed in optimal conditions.
Credit: Mike Jensen
Light
Sun-loving knautia needsfull sun exposure(ideally 6-8 hours daily) to thrive.
It can tolerate partial shade but will produce fewer blooms and have stunted growth.
Soil and Water
Knautia is tolerant of most soil types but struggles in wet and waterlogged soils.
It prefers well-drained,slightly alkaline, moderately fertile soil.
Water new knautia plants once or twice weekly in the first year.
Established knautia plants arerobust and drought-tolerant.
Temperature and Humidity
Knautia prefers sunny climates with cool summer nights.
It may struggle inexcessive heatand high humidity.
It fares best in temperatures between 60 and 80 Fahrenheit.
In freezing temperatures, knautia will die back to the ground.
Temperatures below -5 F will likely kill the plantespecially in moister climates.
However, in the right conditions, knautia can self-seed and sprout new plants the following spring.
Fertilizer
In fertile soil, knautia requires no fertilization.
If your knautia needs a boost, apply a balanced fertilizer at the beginning of the growing season.
Avoidhigh-nitrogen fertilizersas they may limit blooming.
Pruning
Knautia will self-seed in optimum growing conditions.
To prevent self-seeding, cut back ordeadhead spent flowersas soon as you notice them.
The plus side is, deadheading can also prolong flowering.
In late winter or early spring, cut your plant back by half or almost to the ground.
When cutting, prune the oldest stems first.
If you dont mind your knautia spreading, leave the seeds and enjoy songbird antics.
Birds love knautia and will forage the seeds over the winter.
Mix your potting soil withperlite to increase drainage.
Knautia is short-lived, so you shouldnt need to repot it.
The perennial is also relatively resistant to disease but may struggle if kept too wet.
How to Propagate Knautia
The easiest way to propagate knautia is via division.
This can be done every three or four years in early spring.
As soon as the foliage emerges, sink a spade into the ground and lift the entire clump.
Cut the clump into several sections and replant divisions immediately.
you’re free to also collect knautia seeds from the seedheads at the end of the growing season.
Your harvested seeds can be planted outside in late winter or early spring.
They do, however, require a period ofcold stratification(3 to 4 weeks) to germinate.
It features domed, dark fuchsia flowers and deep green leaves.
Its dwarf habit makes it slightly sturdier than other knautia cultivars.
Melton Pastels Knautia
Knautia macedonicaMelton Pastels grows 3 to 4 feet tall in zones 5-8.
This cultivar is also rumored to produce an occasional blue-hued flower.
It features reddish-purple pincushion-like blooms and variegated foliage.
The serrated green leaves of Thunder and Lightning are edged in creamy white, creating a lightning bolt effect.
They are apollinator favoriteand quitepopular among birds.
Black-eyed Susans come as annuals, biennials, or perennials.
Like knautia, they prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
Most black-eyed Susans thrive in zones 4-9, but performance varies based on the cultivar and winter temperatures.
They can be grown with some success in zones 3-11.
Coreopsis
Coreopsisis a highly adaptable group of plants, that work in nearly all garden configs.
‘Moonbeam’ coreopsis grows 18 to 24 inches tall and prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
Like knautia, coreopsis is popular among pollinators but largely ignored by deer.
It’s a low-maintenance flowering plant suitable for beds, borders and containers.
Dianthus
Dianthusplants (often called “pinks”) are cheery, easy-to-grow perennials.
Some even bear a sweetly spicy, clove-like scent.
Like knautia, dianthusesprefer full sunand well-drained soil.
They are hearty in zones 3-10.
So, it thrives in northern climates for years with the proper care.
It needs full sun and organically rich, consistently moist to wet soil.
So, it won’t tolerate as much drought as knautia.
In cooler climates, choose the sunniest location to plant your hibiscus.
In warmer climates, choose a spot with shelter from the harshest afternoon sun.
In Zones 5-7, the soft, wooly, gray-green foliage dies back in the winter.
If it does, it’s worth the wait.
Like knautia, thedeer-resistant perennialsprefer full sun and well-drained soil.
It grows about 2-1/2 feet tall and features deep maroon foliage and spires of white flowers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Knautia makes an excellent cut flowerespecially in wildflower bouquets.
Use it as afiller in lush arrangementsordry itto use in decorating projects.
Knautia is a short-lived perennial that may last 2 to 3 years.
However, if left to self-seed, it will continue to produce new plants each spring.
There are several likely reasons why a knautia plant would fail to bloom.
First, check your plants sun exposure.
Knautia plants need 6 to 8 hours of full sun each day to produce the best blooms.
Next, check your plantssoil and drainage.
