American Basketflower

Plectocephalus americanus

Synonym/s: American Basket-flower, American Star-thistle, Basket-flower, Star Thistle, Shaving Brush, Basket Flower

NPSOT, North Texas NLCP, Marie-Therese Herz, Herbarium Sheet

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map (hover for ecoregion names)

Native Habitat: Grassland, Woodland

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, High Plains, Southern Texas Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain

Maintenance

Spring: thin, transplant. Late Feb: remove dead above-ground material.

Comments

Has a sweet, honey fragrance and makes brilliant cut flowers. The plant resembles the thistles but lacks their prickly characteristics. This is a showy, easily cultivated wildflower. Attracts butterflies; birds feast on the relatively large seeds. Self-sows moderately. Seed commercially available.

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1.5 to

5 ft

Spread

.5 to

1 ft

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Annual

Bloom Color

Pink

Bloom Season

Summer

Seasonal Interest

Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Bees

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Previous Scientific Name(s): Centaurea americana

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=780479#null. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CEAM2. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=4066&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Plectocephalus+americanus&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=780479#null

Native Plant Society of Texas