Centaurea montana (Mountain Cornflower)
Mountain Cornflower, Perennial Cornflower, Mountain Bluets, Knapweed, Mountain Knapweed, Bachelor's Button, Great Blue-Bottle
The flamboyant, rich blue flowers of Centaurea montana, known as Mountain Cornflower or Bachelor's Button, are pretty additions to the garden. This attractive perennial plant features showy blue, fringed flowerheads, 2 in. wide (5 cm), with reddish blue, thistle-like centers from late spring to early summer and usually blooms again in late summer - fall if plants are cut back hard after the first flush. The foliage consists of simple or lobed, silvery green leaves. A magnet for butterflies, add these perennial cornflowers anywhere you want a bright color splash with no maintenance!
- Grows in upright clumps up to 12-18 in. tall and wide (30-45 cm).
- Prefers full sun or part shade and enjoys average, dry to medium, well-drained soils. Rich soils to be avoided! This rhizomatous perennial will self-seed prolifically if not deadheaded and may spread fairly quicky to form colonies in satisfactory growing conditions.
- Easy to grow, long-lived and virtually pest and disease free, it is also deer and drought tolerant!
- Perfect for borders and beds, cottage gardens, prairie planting, coastal gardens and wildlife gardens. Excellent choice for naturalizing. Great as cut flowers too!
- Several cultivars of Perennial Cornflowers are available, including Centaurea montana 'Alba', with pure white flowers; Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow' with silky white petals radiating from royal purple centers; Centaurea montana 'Blue' with bluer and less violet blossoms; Centaurea montana 'Carnea' with pink blossoms; Centaurea 'Parham' with huge, deep lavender-blue flowers or Centaurea montana 'Violetta' with stunning violet-blue blossoms.
- Propagate by seed sown in pots in spring or by division in spring or fall. Divide every 2-3 years.
- Remove spent flower stalks to the ground after bloom.
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Requirements
Hardiness | 3
– 8 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 1
– 9 |
Climate Zones | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Centaurea - Cornflowers |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early) |
Height | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 15" – 18" (37cm – 45cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought, Dry Soil |
Attracts | Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders |
Garden Styles | Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
* Picture courtesy of Chanticleer Garden (Lisa Roper)
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 | 3
– 8 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 1
– 9 |
Climate Zones | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Centaurea - Cornflowers |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early) |
Height | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 15" – 18" (37cm – 45cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought, Dry Soil |
Attracts | Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders |
Garden Styles | Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |