Basketflower

Native to the south-central U.S. and northeastern Mexico, this showy annual produces impressively large blooms with fine, wispy petals that fade from pink-lavender at the edges to creamy-white near the center. The underside of each 4-5” wide florescence forms an intricate basket-weave pattern, hence the name. Resembling a common thistle, but without the prickliness, the sweetly scented flowers bloom from from late spring to late summer, attracting a range of pollinators. Once the flowers fade, they give way to fluffy seedheads enjoyed by the birds.