Greater knapweed is found growing in dry grasslands, hedgerows and cliffs on lime-rich soil.

Upright branched stems terminate in single thistle-like flowerheads, each having an outer ring of extended, purple-pink "ragged" bracts which form a crown around the central flowers.

This is the only known food plant for caterpillars of the Coleophoridae case-bearer moth Coleophora didymella.

Centaurea scabiosa has been used in traditional herbal healing as either a vulnerary or an emollient.

[1] This perennial herb grows with an erect grooved stem up to 90 cm high.