Latin Name: Centaurea stoebe

Flower: Pink to purple, thistle-like flower heads with distinctive dark-tipped bracts that bloom from midsummer to fall.

Leaves: Deeply lobed, greyish-green, and slightly hairy.

Stems: Erect, branching, and slightly hairy, growing up to 1 meter tall.

Growing Environment: Prefers dry, well-drained soils in pastures, grasslands, and disturbed areas.

Growth Habit: A biennial or short-lived perennial herb that spreads by seeds, forming dense stands in open habitats. It can quickly dominate large areas. In situ, spotted knapweed appears as scattered or dense patches of purple-flowered plants in open, dry areas.