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Native Plant Society of Texas

American Basketflower

Plectocephalus americanus

Other common name(s):

American Basket-flower, American Star-thistle, Basket-flower, Star Thistle, Shaving Brush, Basket Flower

Family:

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, High Plains, Southern Texas Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Arid Llano Estacado, Llano Estacado, Shinnery Sands
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks, Caprock Canyons Badlands Breaks
Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1.5
to
5
ft.

Spread

.5
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Annual

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Dry, Loam, Sand

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Disturbed Areas, Grassland, Woodland Edge

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Pink

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Maintenance

This is a showy, easily cultivated wildflower with a sweet, honey fragrance. Drought tolerant. Good for garden borders or wildflower meadows. It makes brilliant fresh cut or dried flower arrangements. Can be thinned and transplanted in the spring. Native habitat: woodlands’ edge, meadows, pastures, prairies, roadsides, other disturbed sites.

Description

Blooms February-August. An upright form with a stout, branched stem, covered by lance-shaped leaves. Very large flower heads form at the end of the stems and are made up of pinkish ray flowers, surrounding creamy disc flowers. The flowers are followed by fluffy seed heads. The name basket flower refers to the basket weave pattern beneath the flower head. The plant resembles thistles but lacks their prickly characteristics. The fruit is a cypsela: a dry, one-seeded fruit, usually topped by pappus.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Centaurea americana

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Choose a location that receives full sun and has well-drained soil. Avoid areas prone to waterlogging, as American basket-flower does not tolerate waterlogged conditions. No special treatment is required for the seeds, however, ensuring that the they are fresh can enhance germination rates. Sow the seeds directly into the prepared site. Lightly cover them with a thin layer of soil—no more than 1/4 inch deep. After sowing, gently water the area, ensuring the soil is moist but not waterlogged. Continue to provide water whenever the top inch of soil becomes dry. Once seedlings are visible and a few inches tall, thin them to about 12 to 18 inches apart. This spacing allows ample room for growth and air circulation, which is crucial for healthy development. 1) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Plectocephalus_americanus.html 2) https://www.rareseeds.com/blog/post/how-to-grow-basketflower-seeds?srsltid=AfmBOorAcfkS1E03MiEt8HYkZdnLEZY8a57Mr6Q_nZtzfF3U7Q5M6IrG
Stem Cutting Dip the cut end into rooting hormone to encourage root growth. Plant your cuttings in a pot filled with rooting medium (a mixture of perlite and peat moss works well). Water regularly and keep the cuttings in a warm, humid environment. The best time to take cuttings is in the late spring or early summer. Select healthy, non-flowering stems with new growth. Cuttings should be about 4-6 inches long with several nodes (points where leaves grow). Using sharp, clean pruning shears, remove leaves from the bottom half of the cutting. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-plectocephalus-americanus/

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason