Centaurea montana (common names: Berg Centaurie)

What a beautiful flower Spritz!!

Spritz, I have to say... your photos are getting better and better. Love them.

I find if I don't deadhead this one, I get several seedlings nearby but as Spritz says, it will go on and on and on if faded flowers are removed

I never cease to be amazed by the colour of this - and the shapes!

I like it, too, and went off to buy a white version. I am SOOO annoyed because guess what - its buds are just opening - BLUE! I complained to the Nursery and I have to take it back, but ring first to see if they've got a really, truely white one! Trouble is, it was on one of my trips out to Devon - a long way just to play swapsies!

Striking flower. Very much worth the search ENJOY !

Thanks Mike - I am hoping that it seeds itself as much as its blue brother! I confess to buying two of them when I'd tracked it down... Glad I did, though!

This reminds me a bit of monarda; is it also a butterfly attracter?

I'm not sure Grammazoo, I just got it last year and I don't think it bloomed then. I would think so though.

Up close, it reminds me of fireworks.!

Yeh , its really nice eh ?

I have this too and it is amazing stuff...I planted a clump in my flower bed but a seed must have got down beside the deck..between patio stones and the blacktop driveway...it was doing fine in a very narrow crevice...lol.had to move it...but somehow he doesn't look as happy as in the crevice!!

bumblebees really like mine...don't see too many butterflies yet but the little blue sure stayed awhile between the centauria and the mint...noticed that you have lilies and mullien too ...your beds must be very much like mine...Mullien is one of my all time favourites...You should see the chickadees when it goes to seed...it's an air show!!

Yes Lori, love my lilies, and it's always a great surprise to see where the mullein is gonna pop up each year. I'll have to watch for the birds at it when it goes to seed. That must be fun to watch.

We have them in a large pot.This year has been a good time for them- they have put on a good show

Just feed the name into Google or Yahoo and you will get masses of info

Your picture shows a Centaurea montana. What would you like to know about it? I've got this (and the white version) so I may be able to help.

I have two of these, both in the same border, bought from the same place, one did well and one didnt!! The one that is doing well has been flowering non stop since the beginning of the season and is still producing loads and doesnt seem to be slowing. The other one is very small and has just produced the odd flower now and again. The bees love it.
Lynne x

Lovely deep blue.

RE Wizzbang - These plants are really prone to overnight slug and snail attacks which stops the plant developing and flowering. It does help to split them and try them in various places. They seem to like being moved and spread quite easily.