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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,

Centaurea Cyanus, 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, Blu
Centaurea Cyanus, 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, Blu

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.

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 Compositae
Genus Centaurea
Common names Bachelor's Button, Cornflower
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)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United Kingdom
Tolerance Drought, Deer
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage, Gravel and Rock Garden, Cutting Garden, Coastal Garden
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Centaurea cyanus ‘Jubilee Gem’ (Cornflower)
Centaurea dealbata (Persian Cornflower)
Centaurea dealbata ‘John Coutts’ (Persian Cornflower)
Centaurea cyanus ‘Black Gem’ (Cornflower)
Centaurea cyanus ‘Pinkie’ (Cornflower)
Centaurea cyanus ‘Snowman’ (Cornflower)

Recommended Companion Plants

Papaver rhoeas (Flanders Poppy)
Ammi visnaga (Toothpick Weed)
Salvia horminum ‘Pink Sunday’ (Annual Sage)
Lupinus ‘The Governor’ (Lupine)
Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy)
Eruca vesicaria (Arugula)
Achillea (Yarrow)

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Native Plant Alternatives to Centaurea cyanus (Cornflower)
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.
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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 Compositae
Genus Centaurea
Common names Bachelor's Button, Cornflower
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)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United Kingdom
Tolerance Drought, Deer
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage, Gravel and Rock Garden, Cutting Garden, Coastal Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Centaurea
Guides with
Centaurea
Not sure which Centaurea to pick?
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