Latin Name: Centaurea diffusa

Flower: White, thistle-like flower heads that bloom from midsummer through fall.

Leaves: Finely divided, grey-green, and covered in fine hairs.

Stems: Erect, slender, and branching, growing up to 60 cm tall.

Growing Environment: It prefers open areas and well-drained soils. It is often found in grasslands, pastures, disturbed areas and along roadsides.

Growth Habit: A biennial or short-lived perennial herb that forms a basal rosette in its first year and sends up a flowering stalk in its second year. It spreads by seed and can form dense patches. In situ, diffuse knapweed often appears as scattered clumps of slender, branching plants with pale flowers, particularly in dry, open areas.