Centaurea, the national flower of Germany, had an association with the royalty of old Germany and was popularly known as the ‘emperor’s flower’. It was the favourite flower of Kaiser Wilhelm I. The dignity and authority associated with the name of the flower easily made it the national flower of the country. Even after the change of the political situations and the establishment of the Republic of Germany, the flower still remains the national floral emblem of the country.

Centaurea is the national flower of Germany since the year 1968 and it symbolizes the daily bread to the German people. The flower also stands as a symbol of the Estonian political party, Rahvaliit, and the Swedish political party as well as the Liberal People's Party. The flower is also used for medicinal purposes. It is used to treat conjunctivitis and as a lotion which refreshes the eyes. As centaurea is an integral part of the German life, the flower has been quite appropriately chosen the national flower of the republic.

According to the folklores of Germany, if the flower worn by any love-struck young man faded very fast it meant that his love was unreciprocated.