A new species, Centaurea lovricii, is described and illustrated from the island of Vis (Dalmatia, Croatia). It occurs on northwest-facing calcareous cliffs near the sea, where it grows with several other rare endemic species. Centaurea lovricii is morphologically similar to C. glaberrima and C. divergens of C. sect. Centaurea, from which it differs in having more succulent leaves with larger and less incised leaflets, bigger capitula, larger phyllaries with more developed appendages and denser and undulate fimbriae, larger florets, bigger achenes, and longer pappus. Its morphological features, distribution, ecology, conservation status and taxonomic affinities are examined. In addition, a new iconography and lectotypification for C. glaberrima and C. divergens is provided.