Cephalaria alpina aka Yellow Cephalaria

Cephalaria alpina is a tall herbaceous perennial in the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. Its native range covers parts of the mountains of Europe. These include the Jura in eastern France and the southwestern and central Alps. It also grows in Italy's northern Apennines. It comes from a temperate climate and is not native to Britain or Ireland. An older botanical name is Scabiosa alpina.

This plant has an upright form with strong, branching stems. The RHS describes plants reaching about 6 feet (1.8 metres). Its wider garden height range is 5–8 feet (1.5–2.5 metres). Allow a spread of about 1.6–3.3 feet (0.5–1 metre). Plants take two to five years to reach full size. The leaves are divided, with toothed edges and a hairy surface. The foliage is deciduous, so the plant does not keep its leaves year-round.

Pale yellow to cream flowerheads appear in summer. Each head has a raised centre that looks like a pincushion. The branching stems carry these heads above the leaves. The soft flower colour suits cottage gardens and informal planting. The RHS also lists it for flower beds and borders. Its height gives it a tall presence within these plantings. The flowers can also be cut for use indoors.

Choose fertile soil that holds moisture but drains well. The RHS lists clay, chalk, loam and sand as suitable soils. It accepts acid, neutral and alkaline conditions. Grow it in full sun or partial shade. The listed aspects include north, south, east and west. Both sheltered and exposed sites can suit it. In exposed gardens, however, the tall stems need stakes for support. The RHS gives it an H7 hardiness rating. This places it in the category for severe continental European winters, below −4°F (−20°C).

Cut the stems back once flowering has finished. To raise more plants, use seed or divide an established plant. The RHS reports few routine problems with pests or diseases. This does not rule out damage, but no specific problem is listed. The supplied sources give no details on fruit or seed appearance. They also provide no evidence for edible uses or medicinal uses. They do not establish whether this species is safe to eat or harmless to pets.