Meadow knapweed reproduces mostly by seed, but its root fragments can resprout after disturbance.

Underneath the flowerhead are distinctive light to dark-brown bracts with papery, fringed margins.

Brown knapweed was purposefully introduced to North America as a forage crop.

Meadow knapweed prefers moist sites in full sunshine, infesting river banks, pipelines, roadsides, fields, and pastures.

[2] Meadow knapweed is considered an invasive species and noxious weed in some areas.

Meadow knapweed has the ability to out-compete grasses and other species used for livestock forage, and may take over native prairie and savannah ecosystems.

[5] The species is found widely on continental North America, as well as in South Africa and Australia.

[5] Meadow knapweed is considered a noxious weed in British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

[6] The Invasive Species Compendium refers to meadow knapweed as Centaurea debeauxii.