Rough star thistle

  • Common Name: Rough star‑thistle
    Botanical Name: Centaurea aspera L.
  • Family Name: Sunflower family
  • Type: annual
  • Zone Hardiness: 8-10
  • Height: Generally 1–3ft
  • Width: 1–2ft
  • Blooms: Thistle-like flower heads; bracts with spines; petals often purple or pinkish
  • Bloom Time: July to October
  • Sun: full sun
  • Leaves: Rough-textured, spiny bracts typical of thistles; leaves may be lanceolate to spatulate
  • Maintenance: low for beginners; will need to have some plants removed to maintain the area after reseeding.
  • Tolerates: drought
  • Attracts: bees and butterflies
  • Texas Superstar: No
  • Texas Native: No
  • Invasive: Yes, spreads aggressively by reseeding