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American Basketflower Seeds

Plectocephalus americanus

$6.95
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per Packet
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ZONES  3-9 | Good to grow! Zone
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$6.95
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$22.95
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$41.95
$41.95 $0.00
Amount: Packet
$6.95
$6.95 $0.00
$22.95
$22.95 $0.00
$41.95
$41.95 $0.00

  • American Basketflower is a towering native annual with large, feathery lavender-pink blooms and distinctive woven “basket” bracts beneath each flower.
  • Adds bold height and texture to wildflower meadows, prairie plantings, and naturalized borders.
  • A magnet for bees, butterflies, and birds, with excellent drought tolerance and easy growth in full sun and well-drained soils.

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Description

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.

Planting & Care

Learn everything you need to know about growing wildflowers from the experts at American Meadows.

Visit Our Wildflower Learning Center for more helpful guides.

Shipping

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.

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Key Features

Advantages

  • Bee Friendly
  • Attracts Butterflies
  • Attracts Birds
  • Attracts Beneficial Insects
  • Native
  • Cut Flowers
  • Dried Flowers
  • Fragrant

Tolerates

  • Occasional Drought
  • Occasional Flooding

Life Cycle

Annual

Light Requirements

  • Full Sun

Bloom Time

Late spring to summer

Additional information

Soil Moisture

  • Average
  • Dry

Soil Type

  • Average Soil
  • Loamy Soil
  • Sandy Soil
  • Clay Soil
  • Well-Drained Soil

Flower Size

Up to 4" wide

Mature Height

24-48" tall

Seed Coverage

Packet covers approx. 10-15 sq ft

2 oz covers approx. 90 sq ft

1/4 lb covers approx 200 sq ft

Seed Spacing

8" apart

Seeds Per Packet

Approx. 25

Seeds Per Pound

34,000

Growing Zones

  • Zone 3
  • Zone 4
  • Zone 5
  • Zone 6
  • Zone 7
  • Zone 8
  • Zone 9

Native To

North America: Southern Great Plains
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