Psephellus dealbatus

Perennial of the Asteraceae family, Centaurea dealbata is native to the Caucasus, Armenia, northern Iran, and eastern Turkey, where it colonizes mountain meadows, edges, and grassy slopes, generally between 1,000 and 2,500 meters in altitude. Its Latin epithet, which means "whitened," refers to the underside of its leaves.

It forms upright and vigorous clumps 40 to 70 cm in height. The leaves are deeply pinnatisect, medium green on the upper side and remarkably whitish to tomentose below, giving the entire foliage a very distinct bicolored appearance, particularly visible when the wind stirs the stems.

The flower heads, solitary at the top of sturdy stems, are quite large; the peripheral ligules are pink-lilac to pale carmine pink, often more faded towards the center, surrounding a heart of more intense pink-purple tubular flowers. The combination of pink tones and the silvery foliage below gives this species a sober and natural elegance.

In its natural habitat, flowering extends from June to August. In cultivation, it generally blooms from May to July, sometimes slightly reblooming at the end of summer if the faded stems are cut.

It adapts to most well-drained soils, in full sun or very light partial shade, and tolerates summer drought well once established. Hardy and undemanding, it is suitable for naturalistic beds and prairie-style borders.