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Centaurea cineraria 'Colchester White'

Centaurea cineraria 'Colchester White' Photo/Illustration: Steve Aitken

(Based on 1 user review)

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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Botanical Name: Centaurea cineraria 'Colchester White' sen-TOR-ee-ah sin-er-AIR-ee-ah Genus: Centaurea
Best used as a foliage plant, this plant's intricately cut, frosty-silver leaves produce a large, elegant arching mound. It also bears pale lavender-blue pin-cushion flowers on lanky 30-inch stems in late spring.
 Noteworthy characteristics: Great as fillers for containers and as summer bedding annuals. Related to the annual bachelor button.
 Care: Prune off flower buds to encourage the plant's dramatic foliage, or let them blossom and use the flowers in bouquets. Once plants flower, they tend to sprawl open from the center. Grow in well-drained but moist soil in full sun.
 Propagation: Easily grown from seed, or take cuttings in fall before frost.
 Problems: White mold, rust, downy and powdery mildew, thread blight, and Southern blight can occur.
Height 1 ft. to 3 ft.
Spread 6 in. to 12 in.
Growth Habit Clumps
Light Full Sun Only
Moisture Medium Moisture
Maintenance Moderate
Characteristics Showy Flowers; Showy Foliage
Bloom Time Summer
Foliage Color Silver/Grey
Flower Color Purple/ Lavender Flower
Uses Beds and Borders, Container, Cut Flower, Suitable as Annual
Style Cottage Garden
Seasonal Interest Spring Interest, Summer Interest, Fall Interest
Type Annuals

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