This is a plant of the meadows and roadside verges and the large flowerheads with distinctive ray florets make it attractive enough to be used as a cottage garden plant. Like other knapweeds it attracts insects and the photo on the right shows both six spot Burnet moth and Small Skipper butterfly sipping the nectar.

It is found throughout England but is absent from mid Wales and most of Scotland except for parts of Angus. In Ireland records are confined to a band across the centre.

LHS: Hook Moor roadside 23rd July 2004 RHS: Brecklands 12th July 2003

Added on February 10th 2005, updated 26th November 2008, updated 11th March 2010, updated 16th March 2013