REPORT

Invasive Plant Details

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Meadow Knapweed

Latin Name: Centaurea × moncktonii

Priority Ranking: Regional EDRR

Identification

Flower: Pink to purple, thistle-like flower heads that bloom from midsummer through fall.

Leaves: Lance-shaped, green, and slightly hairy.

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

Growing Environment: Prefers well-drained soils in meadows, pastures, and roadsides.

Growth Habit: A perennial herb that forms loose clumps and spreads via seeds. It can form dense patches in open habitats. In situ, meadow knapweed appears as scattered or dense stands of tall, purple-flowered plants in meadows or disturbed areas.

Priority Ranking: Regional EDRR

Impacts on Environment

Impacts: Moderately invasive in grasslands and disturbed areas, where it can outcompete native vegetation.

Photo Credits: Peter Dziuk