Description

Knapweed Broomrape is a rare perennial parasitic plant which has no need of its own chlorophyll. The plant therefore does not contain any green matter and gains its nutrients from host plants. It is orange-brown and yellow-brown in colour and grows between 50-70cm tall.

Habitat Information

It is found in grassland, most frequently on chalk and limestone soils in the South of England such as on Salisbury Plain. It is parasitic mainly on Centaurea scabiosa (Greater Knapweed).

Growing Information

The seed is dust-like, containing approximately 100,000 seeds/g so should be mixed with dry sand and sprinkled amongst existing host plants in your grassland.