Species Big Head Purple Star Thistle
purple-white flower with beige needles, green leaves and stems

Big Head Purple Star Thistle

Centaurea calcitrapa

Also Known As - Red Star Thistle
Big Head Purple Star Thistle (Centaurea calcitrapa) is a biennial herbaceous plant. It is an erect growing bush with serrated green foliage, and a single large purple-pink flower head atop each stem that can reach up to 50cm in height. Its vibrant blooms appear from June to October and attract bees and other pollinators. It is typically found in grasslands, meadows and roadsides and is tolerant of a variety of soils. Due to its invasive nature, it is not recommended for cultivation but can be used as an ornamental flower.

Watering:

Average

Hardiness Zone:

Flowers:

Green/Brown Flowers

Sun:

full sun

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Fruits:

green,yellow Fruits Ready In Fall

Edible:

Yes

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

The Dwarf Hackberry should be watered thoroughly as soon as the top 2 inches of soil in the pot become dry to the touch. The plant should be thoroughly saturated with water and then allowed to drain. Then wait until the soil has dried out about 2 inches down from the top before watering again. Generally, watering should occur once a week in the summer and about every 3 weeks in the winter.

sunlight

Dwarf Hackberry (Celtis tenuifolia) performs best in full sun. It is a deciduous shrub that should receive at least 6-8 hours of full sunlight a day for optimal growth and flowering. The leaves of the shrub are best able to absorb the sunlight when the sun is at its peak, so the best time of day to provide sunlight for this plant is from mid-morning to mid-afternoon.

pruning

Pruning of Dwarf Hackberry (Celtis tenuifolia) should be done in late winter or early spring. Pruning should only take place if the plant's growth is out of control and it needs to be reduced in size. For the most part, Dwarf Hackberry requires only minimal pruning. Pruning of the tips and branches is encouraged for shaping the desired look and to remove any dead wood. Heavy pruning of more than 1-third of the plant should be avoided, however, as it can cause shock to the plant.

⚠️ Perenual and its members cannot be held liable for any health issues that may arise from the information provided on the website or from using any of the plants found on the site. The information provided is intended to be used as general guidelines only.