Serratula seoanei

Serratula tinctoria var. seoanei, also known as the Galician Serratula, is a cousin of the Centaurea but it is smaller and its fresh mauve flower heads are more beautiful. This botanical variety blooms continuously from late summer until the first frost and forms a clump of very decorative greyish-green, deeply cut leaves. It is a very hardy perennial that looks superb in rock gardens or slightly wild borders and beds. It thrives in ordinary, even poor, occasionally dry and rocky soil. It is also a beautiful cut flower.

Naturally present in the north of Spain and southwest of France, the Galician Serratula is a herbaceous perennial plant of the aster family. Serratula tinctoria, also known as Dyer's Serratula, was formerly used in dyeing for the yellow colour released by its leaves. The seoanei variety forms a flowering plant 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20in) tall. It develops into an upright and dense clump, covered with beautiful dark green foliage with deeply cut narrow lobed, pinnate leaves. From the end of July until the first frost, this serratula will enliven the garden with its mauve flower heads resembling cornflowers, about 3 cm (1in) long. The flowers are rich in nectar and attractive to pollinators. It is also a long-lived perennial that readily self-seeds in light soil.

The medium height, Galician Serratula is particularly well-suited for perennial borders. It forms patches of a fresh and light colour that will blend well with catnips, globe thistles, ixias (corn lilies), and godetias. It will also look good in a wildflower meadow, where the poorer the soil, the more stunning the result. In this setting, centaury, grasses, sainfoin, phacelia, borage, agrimony, corn marigold, Eschscholzia californica, cosmos, and damask daisies can be mixed. It will also be beautiful and perform well in rock gardens. It is an excellent cut flower, for dried and fresh bouquets.