Centaurea scabiosa

Centaurea scabiosa L.

Greater Knapweed

Greater knapweed is a perennial herb with an erect, grooved stem that can grow up to 90 cm tall. It has deeply dissected leaves arranged alternately and pinnatifid flower heads, which are 5 cm across. The florets are red-purple in color.

Details

Order:

Asterales

Family:

Asteraceae

Genus:

Centaurea

Chemistry:

Greater knapweed has been used in traditional herbal healing as a vulnerary (wound-healing) or an emollient. Its chemistry includes compounds that contribute to its medicinal properties, though specific chemical constituents are not detailed here.

Uses:

The plant is valuable to bees and attracts many species of butterflies, including the marbled white. It is also the only known food plant for caterpillars of the Coleophoridae case-bearer moth, Coleophora didymella. It has been used for traditional medicinal purposes.

Flowering time:

Summer

Sowing time:

Spring to early summer

Plant height:

90 cm

Flower color:

Red-purple

Suitable habitat:

Dry grasslands, hedgerows, and cliffs on lime-rich soil

Info

Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.

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