Wikimedia Commons
Gentianaceae
Common Centaury
Centaurium erythraea
Healing wisdom.
- Family
- Gentianaceae
- Genus
- Centaurium
- Native to
- Europe, North Africa, Western Asia
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Type
- annual to biennial herb
- Height
- 0.5-1.5 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- Well-drained, calcareous, dry
- Water
- low
- Hardiness
- 5-9
- Lifespan
- annual
Did you know
- Legend says the centaur Chiron used this plant to heal a wound from a poisoned arrow, giving it the name centaury.
- Centaury is one of the 38 Bach Flower Remedies, prescribed for people who have difficulty saying no.
- The intensely bitter taste of centaury has made it a traditional ingredient in digestive bitters and herbal liqueurs.
- The flowers only open in bright sunshine and close tightly in cloudy weather or late afternoon.
- In medieval Europe, centaury was considered one of the most important medicinal herbs and was grown in every monastery garden.
Color meanings
0
healing
1
delicacy
2
hidden virtue