How to Grow Knautia
'Melton Pastels' from Seed
Small pincushion flowers in crimson, salmon, coral and dusky lilac, floating on wiry stems through grasses and taller perennials. A meadow effect that bees and butterflies love.
Knautia behaves more like a weaver than a clump. Thin, wiry stems push up through whatever grows around them and carry small pincushion flowers about a metre above the ground, so the colour seems to float with no obvious plant beneath it.
'Melton Pastels' gives a range of shades from one packet: deep crimson through salmon and coral to soft dusky lilac. Planted among grasses or taller perennials, it creates a relaxed, meadow-like effect that is hard to achieve with more solid plants. Expect flowers from its second year.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Plant Type
Hardy perennial
Sowing Time
Feb to Jun
Flowering
June to September, from second year
Position
Full sun, well-drained soil
Height
Around 1m
Difficulty
2 out of 5, easy
Understanding the Plant
'Melton Pastels' is a seed strain of Knautia macedonica, a hardy perennial from the Balkans. It forms a low rosette of leaves from which branching, wiry flower stems rise through summer.
It copes with dry, chalky ground that defeats many perennials, and it is outstanding for bees and butterflies. Each plant carries its own shade, so a group gives a soft, varied mix.
Plant it through other things
Knautia looks best woven among grasses, salvias, or taller perennials that give its wiry stems something to lean on. On its own in rich soil, it can sprawl.
When & How to Sow
Sow under cover from February to April, or outdoors in pots from May to June. Plants grow on through their first summer and flower strongly from the following year.
Sow early for sturdier plants
A February or March sowing gives well-established plants by autumn, which flower better the following summer.
Sow thinly and lightly cover. Sow onto damp seed compost, cover with a thin layer of compost or vermiculite and keep at around 15 to 20°C. Seedlings appear in two to four weeks.
Pot on. Move seedlings into individual pots once large enough, and grow on in a cool, bright spot.
Plant out. Plant out from May or June, around 45cm apart, in full sun and well-drained soil.
Growing On Tips
Sun and drainage
Full sun and well-drained soil suit it best. It thrives on dry and chalky ground.
Deadhead
Regular deadheading keeps it flowering from June into autumn.
Wildlife value
Exceptional for bees and butterflies throughout summer.
Mix with grasses
Weave it through ornamental grasses for a naturalistic, meadow look.
Low water
Once established, it needs watering only in prolonged drought.
For cutting
The small pincushions add an airy touch to summer posies.
Common Problems & How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Plants sprawl | Rich soil or no neighbours for support | Grow in leaner soil among other plants, or use low twiggy supports. |
| White powdery leaves | Powdery mildew in dry late summer | Cut back affected growth and water in long dry spells. |
| No flowers in the first year | Normal for seed-raised plants | Flowering begins in the second summer. |
| Plants die over winter | Wet, heavy soil | Improve drainage or plant on a slope or raised bed. |
| Young plants eaten | Slugs and snails | Protect young plants after planting out. |
When to Expect Flowers
Plants sown this year establish over summer and flower from June to September the following year, then every year after.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Sow | ||||||||||||
| 🪴 Plant out | ||||||||||||
| 🌸 Flowering |
Plant Specifications
Floating pincushions for a meadow-style border
Sow in spring, plant out among grasses and taller perennials, and from the second summer enjoy months of soft, bee-covered colour.
Shop Knautia Melton Pastels Seeds →