Species knautia
a profusion of maroon-red flowers with green stem and green foliage

knautia

Knautia macedonica 'Thunder and Lightning'

Knautia macedonica 'Thunder and Lightning' is an attractive perennial plant with masses of vibrant, magenta-purple flowers held high above its deeply lobed, dark green foliage. It flowers non-stop from midsummer onwards until early autumn. This drought-tolerant species is well-suited to hot, sunny spots such as rock gardens, and also makes a good border plant. Not only is it easy to look after, but it is attractive to pollinators and has an eye-catching, long-flowering presence in the garden.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 9

Flowers:

Burgundy Flowers In Summer

Sun:

Full sun

Soil:

Rocky , gravelly , dry, Well-drained

Fruits:

purple,black Fruits In Summer Ready In Fall

Edible:

Yes

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Low

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Knautia macedonica 'Thunder and Lightning' should be watered regularly throughout the growing season, aiming for an average of 1-2 inches of water per week. Water deeply until the water runs out the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Allow the soil to dry slightly between watering, and if the plant is in a container, allow the top inch or 2 of the soil to dry out before watering again. In hotter weather, water more frequently as needed. In winter, reduce watering to every 1 or 2 weeks, as this plant is less active.

sunlight

Knautia macedonica 'Thunder and Lightning' is a hardy plant species that enjoys full sun. It does best with at least 5 hours of direct sunlight each day. Although it can tolerate some shade, Knautia macedonica 'Thunder and Lightning' prefers direct sun. To maintain its vibrant coloring and keep it blooming heavily, it needs the sunlight to produce adequate amounts of energy. The optimal time of day for this plant species is between 9am and 3pm, when the sun is the brightest.

pruning

Knautia macedonica 'Thunder and Lightning' should be pruned in early spring, when frost danger has passed. Pruning should be light to moderate, removing dead foliage and thinning out congested areas. This encourages bushier, more abundant flowering. As the flowers fade, the spent blooms should be removed to prevent the plant from setting seed and exhausting its energy. Cutting back too severely can damage the plant, so it's best to only remove a small amount of material and shape plants by pruning side shoots rather than shearing the top of the plant.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Knautia macedonica 'Thunder and Lightning' typically starts flowering in June.

Harvest Fruit

Knautia macedonica 'Thunder and Lightning' is typically harvested in July and August.

Hardiness Map