The squarrose knapweed is an herbaceous perennial plant.

The inner flowers are bright purple, the outer ones are azure blue or deep mauve.

This species occurs in Afghanistan, Armenia, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey Turkmenistan and United States.

Centaurea triumfettii prefers dry and sunny places, in deciduous bushes, on meadows and subalpine grass slopes.

Occasionally they are found as ornamental plants in gardens and parks.