White Basket Flower (Centaurea americana) - It is hard to resist these large, puffy flowers and their sweet honey-like scent. Native to mid and southern US states, basket flower is named after the straw-coloured bracts that hold the buds in place. The multi-branching habit yields many white flowers per plant, each radiating a lovely creamy white center with striking white feathery fringes. Flowers can exceed 4 or 5 inches across and plants can reach 5 feet high. A fairly long bloom period beginning in midsummer to late fall. We cannot stop growing these for our own satisfaction and for our resident bumble bees. Makes a beautiful addition to flower gardens and/or naturalized spaces. Also quite popular as a cut vase flower.
30 seeds per packet $4.45
Growing Instructions: Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost. Sow at ¼” depth, keeping temperature between 18 - 22 C. Space transplants 16 - 20” apart. Can also be directly sown outdoors after the last spring frost. Expect germination within 1 - 3 weeks.
