Alphabetical Plant Listing

Centaurea cyanus (Cornflower)

Cornflower, Witches' Bells, Ragged Robin, Happy Skies, Haw Dods, Hurtsickle, French Pink, Brushes, Bunk, Blue Tops, Bluets, Blawort, Ragged Sailor, Cornbottle, Corn Centaury, Break-Your-Spectacles, Blue Bow, Blue Poppy, Blue Bonnets, Blue Bottle, Barbeau,


Bearing charming and profuse flowers for months, Centaurea cyanus, known as Cornflower or Bachelor's Button, are particularly attractive annual plants with usually double, daisy-like flower heads, 1.5 in. wide (3.5 cm), in shades of blue, pink, lavender, white, and maroon. Blooming abundantly from late spring into late summer (if deadheaded), they rise cheerfully atop tall stems clad with lance-shaped, gray-green leaves. A magnet for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators and beneficial insects, they are excellent for cutting and drying.

  • Grow in upright clumps up to 12-36 in. tall (30-90 cm) and spread 6-12 in. wide (15-30 cm).
  • Prefer full sun or light shade and enjoy average, medium, and well-drained soils. Cornflowers are very adaptable and will grow in the poorest of soils. The plant will tend to flop in too much shade. Staking may be required on taller plants. Minimal watering and no fertilizer are required to keep these annuals going. Established plants can tolerate dry soil, but regular watering will keep the plants healthier.
  • Easy to grow and virtually pest and disease free (watch for aphids and mealybugs), they are also deer and drought-tolerant!
  • Perfect for borders and beds, cottage gardens, prairie plantings, cutting gardens, wildlife gardens, or containers. The dwarf varieties are nice for rock gardens and the front of borders or along edges. Excellent choice for naturalizing. Great as cut flowers too, fresh or in dried arrangements!
  • New plants may be grown each year by planting seed indoors 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost date or outdoors at the last spring frost date. In mild winter areas, seed may be planted outdoors in the fall.
  • Plants may reseed in the garden. Deadheading spent flowers will help prevent undesired self-seeding
  • Native to Europe.
  • Find where this species is invasive in the United States.
  • Discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.

Not sure which Centaurea - Cornflowers to pick?
Compare All Centaurea - Cornflowers

Buy Centaurea cyanus (Cornflower)

Requirements

Hardiness 2 – 11
Heat Zones 1 – 7
Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Annuals
Plant Family Centaurea - Cornflowers
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Height 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm)
Spread 6" – 1' (15cm – 30cm)
Spacing 6" – 12" (15cm – 30cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United Kingdom
Tolerance Deer, Drought
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Cutting Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Buy Plants

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Centaurea - Cornflowers

Guides with Centaurea - Cornflowers


* Top picture is courtesy of Botanik Foto

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 2 – 11
Heat Zones 1 – 7
Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Annuals
Plant Family Centaurea - Cornflowers
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Height 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm)
Spread 6" – 1' (15cm – 30cm)
Spacing 6" – 12" (15cm – 30cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United Kingdom
Tolerance Deer, Drought
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Cutting Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Centaurea - Cornflowers

Guides with Centaurea - Cornflowers

Plant Calculator

How many Centaurea cyanus (Cornflower) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Centaurea cyanus (Cornflower)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.