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sweetsultan

Scientific Name: Amberboa moschata

Family: Asteraceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Annual, Biennial

Other Names:

       

Sweet Sultan: A Fragrant Addition to Your Garden

Sweet Sultan, known for its delightful fragrance and unique thistle-like blooms, is a popular choice for cottage gardens and cut flower arrangements. This hardy annual offers a mix of colors and a sweet scent, making it a welcome addition to any garden.

Considerations for Pets and Children

  • The plant has thistle-like flowers, so it may have prickly parts.
  • It is known as a "powder puff bloom" and may have small parts that could be a choking hazard.
  • The plant produces sap.

Scientific Name and Common Names

  • Scientific Name: Centaurea moschata (formerly Amberboa muricata, Amberboa moschata)
  • Common Name: Sweet Sultan

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Family: Compositae/Asteraceae
  • Synonyms: Amberboa moschata, Centaurea suaveolens

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to the Middle East and Mediterranean regions.
  • Has been cultivated since the 1600s and is widely popular in gardens.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Hardy annual that grows to about 2 feet in height.
  • Features fragrant, thistle-like blooms that resemble large, silky powder puffs.
  • Flower colors include deep, dusky rose purple, white, pink, lilac, and yellow.
  • The plant forms a bushy shape with deeply cut leaves.

Ecological Role

  • Attracts wildlife, including bees and butterflies.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Susceptible to the European knapweed rust (Puccinia jaceae).

Quirky Facts

  • Sweet Sultan has been used to translate the subversive use of the language of flowers throughout history.