Knautia macedonica Thunder and Lightning

Knautia macedonica 'Thunder and Lightning' is a splendid mutation of Macedonian scabious, sometimes called "little scabious". It has a more compact habit and variegated foliage. Attractive to butterflies, this perennial plant offers a beautiful and long flowering period of dark purple-red flowers that form a magnificent contrast with the green and cream foliage. This knautia makes a striking effect in borders, rockeries, or in a pot on a patio. Once established, it shows resistance to drought and tolerates calcareous soils.

Knautia macedonia 'Thunder and Lightning' belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family. Its wild parent, Knautia macedonia, is native to Macedonia, a region that extends from the centre of the Balkans to Romania. In nature, it often grows on rocky soils, both calcareous and clay-loamy, in meadows or at the edge of woodlands. The cultivar 'Thunder and Lightning' was discovered by Marc R. Laviana of Sunny Border Nurseries (Connecticut, U.S.A). This perennial forms a basal rosette of toothed leaves, measuring from 4 to 8cm (2 to 3in) long, evergreen in winter (depending on weather conditions), and variegated with green and cream to very pale-yellow. A multitude of flower stems emerge from the foliage, reaching heights of 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in). The leafy clump will occupy about 40cm (16in) of space on the ground. The flowering takes place from June to September-October if faded flowers are removed. An established plant produces about 100 flowers each summer. The highly branched and flexible stems are adorned with a few simple, pinnatifid leaves, and bear at their tips compound heads composed of tiny red-purple flowers, with a diameter of 1.5 to 3cm (1in), resembling pompoms. The flowering is followed by the formation of highly decorative heads. Like all scabious, it is a nectar-rich plant. It is a short-lived perennial, but it self-seeds abundantly in light soil, although not always faithfully compared to the parent plant.

In a flowery meadow, in borders of more sophisticated perennial flowers, and in herbaceous borders, Knautia macedonia 'Thunder and Lightning' makes a sensation, with its small ruby pompoms that seem to be suspended in the air, floating above its luminous foliage. Of modest size, it will benefit from being planted in the border of a flower bed. Pair it with cosmos, Achillea millefolium, echinacea, lavenders, or even blue fescue (Festuca glauca). Also consider pairing it with Aster turbinellus or Coreopsis 'Moonbeam'. Its delicate blooms are perfect in country bouquets or even as dried flowers.