Although the 50 or so species of Knautia are native from the western tip of Europe all the way across through Siberia, in cultivation the genus is mainly represented by K. macedonica and its forms. Scabious-like flowers, lilac through to red, often over dissected foliage. Suitable for an open position. Similar in effect to Scabious, Cephalaria.
All scabiouses of this and related genera are amongst the most attractive plants to bumblebees, honeybees, solitary bees and hoverflies, as well as a range of midsummer butterflies, including skippers and browns along with the showier small tortoiseshells and red admirals.