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Spotted Knapweed

Centaurea stoebe

—
Not native

Not native to West Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 71%

Height
2–3 feet
Light
Full sun
Soil moisture
Dry to somewhat dry

At a glance

Life cycle
Biennial or perennial

Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves · Bloom

This plant is missing most of its facts, so Quercus is looking them up in old botany books.

Recorded in 4 West Virginia counties.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

5CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Centaurea

  • Epiblema scudderianaScudder's Epiblema, Goldenrod Gall Moth
  • Megalographa bilobaBilobed Looper Moth
  • Platyptilia carduidactylusArtichoke Plume Moth
  • Schinia arcigeraArcigera Flower Moth
  • Vanessa carduiPainted Lady, Cosmopolite
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
6Specialist beesPollen specialists

Pollen specialists · Centaurea

  • Megachile pugnata
  • Melissodes denticulatus
  • Melissodes desponsus
  • Melissodes rivalis
  • Melissodes subillatus
  • Perdita octomaculata
Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
12BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Centaurea

  • Anthus rubescensAmerican Pipit
  • Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
  • Haemorhous mexicanusHouse Finch
  • Junco hyemalisDark-eyed Junco
  • Melospiza melodiaSong Sparrow
  • Melozone crissalisCalifornia Towhee
  • Pipilo maculatusSpotted Towhee
  • Spinus psaltriaLesser Goldfinch
  • Spinus tristisAmerican Goldfinch
  • Spizella passerinaChipping Sparrow
Show all 12
  • Zonotrichia atricapillaGolden-crowned Sparrow
  • Zonotrichia leucophrysWhite-crowned Sparrow
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Asteraceae
Hardiness
Zones 5b–9b
Soil pH
Acidic to neutral
Flower color
Purple

What its natural habitat tells you

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Bushy Knapweed; Centaurea biebersteinii; Centaurea maculosa

Conservation status

West Virginia rankSNA
Global rankGNR
WV statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Native alternatives

Find natives for your garden

Sources