Asteraceae · Centaurea cyanus
Native to: Europe
Also known as: Bachelors Button
Plants have an upright habit with long grey/green leaves and produce tall traditional cornflower blue flowers. Good for cottage gardens, wildflower gardens, beds and borders. Excellent vibrant blue colour and very easy to grow. Makes an excellent cut flower or dried flower; colour doesn't fade. Attracts bees and butterflies to the garden. Has a history of medicinal uses and petals are often used to add colour to salads or dried in tea blends. Can be grown in containers.
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Cornflower plants may need to be supported as they grow. Depending on the expected size and height of the plant, use a stake, bamboo cane, trellis or string lines to support plants. Make sure you have the support in place when you sow seed or transplant seedlings to avoid disturbing the plant's roots later.
Common Problems: Aphids, Powdery Mildew
Use sharp snips or secateurs to cut the longest stems possible, removing the lower leaves and placing the stems immediately in a clean bucket of water.
Cornflower plants commonly self-seed in the garden. Self-seeding plants drop seeds onto the soil at the end of the season that may germinate and grow without help the following season. Choose a position where new plants will be welcome. If you do not want cornflowers to become established in your garden, deadhead plants before they can drop seed or grow them in containers.
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