Centaurea jankae

Description

Centaurea jankae is an extremely rare species, which can be found growing in steppe habitats only in Dobrogea, Romania and Bulgaria; two small populations exist in both countries.
It is a tall species with beautiful deeply-pinnately leaves and a multitude of large, magenta-red flowers, all summer long into late fall.

Lots of pollinators visit the flowers but you will need 2-3 plants flowering in order to obtain viable seeds. Please read more: A plant portrait: Centaurea jankae.

A beautiful, long flowerting tall Centaurea for a sunny, well drained location; flower beds, screes, gravel gardens. Grow it with Delphinium fissum, Dictamnus albus, Salvia pratensis, Ruta graveolens….

Germination: at room temperature; start indoors under lights or outdoors when the weather permits in your area. Sow only 5-6 seeds; keep the rest in the fridge for sowing next year for more generations of seedlings. The flowering plants may die after flowering (monocarpic) although I can confirm now that it is not always the rule.