How do we use your location?
Knowing your location helps us recommend plants that will thrive in your climate, based on your Growing Zone.
Bold, beautiful, and uniquely wild, American Basketflower (Plectocephalus americanus, and formerly named Centaurea americana) is a native prairie gem that brings striking texture and pollinator magic to summer gardens. This towering annual stuns with lavender-pink, fringed blooms up to 4 inches across—soft and feathery on top, perched above a distinctive woven, basket-like base that gives the plant its charming name.
Native to the southern and central United States, American Basketflower thrives in hot, dry climates, where it grows tall—up to 5–6 feet—on branching stems that sway in the breeze. Its dramatic size and intricate flower form make it a showstopper in wildflower meadows, prairie restorations, and naturalized borders. And while it’s beautiful to us, it’s essential to pollinators—bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds visit the blooms all summer long.
This hardy, drought-tolerant annual is incredibly easy to grow in full sun and well-drained soil, even where the soil is sandy, rocky, or poor. Despite its bold presence, it plays well with others, weaving between native grasses and companion wildflowers to create a dynamic, wildlife-friendly tapestry. After blooming, the large seed heads can be left for birds—or collected for future plantings.
With its combination of elegant blooms and rugged resilience, American Basketflower is a true celebration of native beauty—wild, wonderful, and impossible to ignore.
As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Depending upon your order date, we may hold your shipment to combine it with other products on your order, if applicable. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service toll-free at (802) 227-7200 or contact us by email or chat.