Japanese name: クナウティア マケドニカ Scientific name:Knautia macedonica
[Overview]
A short-lived perennial about 80 cm tall.
The stem is thin and branched.
There are basal leaves and leaves opposite on the stem, both either pinnately divided or simple and undivided.
At the branch tips, dark reddish-purple flower heads 1.5–3 cm in diameter bloom facing upward.
The flowers in the center of the flower head are small and tubular, but those along the edge are greatly developed into two-lipped forms that spread outward.
The fruit is an achene.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
It also spreads from self-sown seed.
It is relatively tolerant of heat, but the plant may weaken in hot, humid conditions.
It prefers sunny, well-drained, fertile soil.
It suits neutral to alkaline soil.
For potted plants, water thoroughly after the soil has dried; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
If base fertilizer is applied, no further fertilizing is particularly needed, but for potted plants a small amount of slow-release fertilizer may be applied in spring and autumn.
If you are not collecting seed, cutting off the flower stalks at the base after flowering keeps the plant from becoming exhausted.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
