Centaurea diluta is an annual herb that is not native to California.
There is a high risk of this plant becoming invasive in California according to Cal-IPC.
[Cal-IPC] Europe native, Invasive: Centaurea diluta (North African knapweed) is an annual herb/ (family Asteraceae) with pink-purple flowers and lobed leaves found in the San Francisco Bay area and south coast ranges of California. It is native to southwestern Europe. It favors grasslands. Its hairy seeds are dispersed via wind. It was said to have been introduced to Great Britain as a contaminant in bird seed.
Cal-IPC Rating: Watch (link added by Mary Ann Machi)
Calflora:
Information on California plants for education, research and conservation,
with data contributed by
public and private institutions and individuals.
[web application]. 2025.The Calflora Database
[a non-profit organization].Available:
https://www.calflora.org/(Accessed: 03/31/2025).
one or more occurrences