At first I would only look for Centauries near the seaside. Then I found a local site in Cheshire with a few growing, later on a field a little further away full of them and finally I noticed that they grow in fair numbers all over a sandstone outcrop on the banks of the M56 motorway. Common Centaury is actually to be found anywhere really and has no particular preference for basic or acidic soils.

It is found throughout England, Wales and Ireland but just in the west of Scotland and on coasts in the east.

LHS: Llandulas quarry 7th June 2006 RHS: Gaitbarrows, Lancashire 20th July 2004

Added on December 6th 2004, updated 26th November 2008, updated 11th March 2010