Centaurea americana. The Basket Flower creates a centrepiece of joy in the garden with its unique basket-like formation, which gives way to feathery white flowers. An absolute favourite among pollinators, this flower attracts all the welcome critters.
Known as a wildflower in the southern regions of North America, this plant produces numerous sturdy stems with a multitude of flowers, which bloom from midsummer through to late autumn. They grow to around 5 feet tall and have a generally upright growth habit, making them a great cut flower. They can also be used as a dried flower in the stages right before and after their bloom.
Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost to transplant outside when night temperatures reach 10°C or higher. It can also be directly sown into the garden after the last frost.