Species cornflower
Bright-blue flower with dark-purple anthers with green foliage.

cornflower

Centaurea cyanus

Also Known As - Bachelor's Button,Blue Bottle,Blue Bottle
The cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) is an incredible species that provides beauty, medicine, and food! Its vibrant petals in shades of cornflower-blue, lavender, and white capture the eye and spread cheer. Cornflowers have long been prized for their medicinal properties too, and have been used to treat everything from nervous exhaustion to fever. Plus, its edible seeds are used to make flavoring for syrups, liquors, and foods. With bright beauty, an array of medicinal and culinary uses, and drought-tolerance, this amazing plant has something for everyone.

Cycle:

Annual

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Division,Cutting,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

2 - 11

Flowers:

Blue Flowers

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Fruits:

Fruits Ready In Summer

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,purple,cyan

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Cornflower requires consistent watering to thrive. During the active growing season (spring to summer), water the plant when the topsoil feels dry to the touch - about every 1-3 days. During the winter months, reduce watering as much as possible, as the plant goes dormant. Water lightly once a month during cold winter months or if the plant shows signs of drooping leaves.

sunlight

Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) prefers full sun for at least 6 hours per day in order to reach its highest potential in terms of flower production. They flower best in cooler climates of the northern hemisphere due to their native range being in the plains of central Europe and regions around the Mediterranean. In more southern regions, they will flower more sporadically and will require more frequent water in order to keep their blossoms looking lush and vibrant. In more temperate regions, they should still receive a minimum of 4-5 hours of direct light for optimal growth and development.

pruning

Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) plants should be pruned in late winter or early spring, when the plant is dormant. Pruning should remove any broken, diseased, or dead stems, as well as any flower heads that have become detached and are lying on the ground. If the plant is growing aggressively, it may need to be pruned back quite far to encourage it to become bushier. However, be careful not to prune too much or you may damage the plant.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

The cornflower typically starts flowering in June.

Harvest Fruit

The harvesting season for Centaurea cyanus (cornflower) typically begins in June and ends in August.

Hardiness Map