Greater knapweed
The large purple-headed knapweed of dry calcareous grassland; a valuable midsummer nectar and pollen plant for wild bees and honey bees.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0.3-1.2 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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This species is a perennial knapweed with large purple heads up to 5 cm across, growing on dry calcareous grassland, stony slopes and road embankments. Being deep-rooted, it keeps secreting nectar during summer drought. It is visited intensively by honey bees, bumblebees and especially leafcutter bees; its pollen contribution is moderate.
Flowering
It flowers for 6-8 weeks from June to August; as the heads open in succession, the plant offers bees a source for a long time.
Honey and pollen
There is no honey under its own name; it contributes to dry-meadow and highland multifloral honeys.
Note for the beekeeper
In Europe it is included in wildflower mixtures recommended for calcareous soils. In Turkey its range is limited and detailed records are scarce; native Anatolian Centaurea species fill a similar role. Its name, referring to scabious, comes from its leaves resembling those of Scabiosa species.