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http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...1&d=1149173100

Can anyone identify this flower for me. I always thought it was a weed or wild flower but have never been able to get rid of it.
This year I let it grow as it wanted and blow me it has been nibbled by something...holes in leaves etc....also white dust kind of thing on leaves.
Anyway, does anyone recognise it?
It would be great to be able to put a name to it.
Many thanks,
GloBerry.

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Hi Globerry
Looks like knapweed (Centaurea) to me, very prolific but despite the common name, definitely not a weed - I have several large clumps in my flower beds and as you say, it never fails to perform.

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

Hello Glo Berry, yes I would go with Rat and say it's Centauria (or corn flower as we call it) It's not a weed but spreads like one. I would't worry about its problem as it's just about indestructible. It will get on fine.

I have knapweed growing in my garden too. I dead head it to keep it flowering for longer as it works well in my cottage type flower beds.

Hi GloBerry, the 'white dust' on the leaves is probably powdery mildew which is caused when the plants are too dry & crowded together- knapweed can be prone to this. Just water the plant at the base without wetting the leaves & cut off the worst affected ones, the nibbles could be any hungry slug/snail/caterpillar who just fancied a snack but don't look like too much of a problem.

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Into every life a little rain must fall.

Ah! many thanks to you all...at last, a name to call it and not the one I usually use.
The times I've pulled this up by the roots and disposed of it...or so I've thought, and there it is shooting up again the next year.
I'm going straight out there now to 'deadhead'...something it's never experienced....and I will think about dividing it up at end of year.
I'm very grateful to you, thanks.

GloBerry