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Centaurea montana (Mountain Cornflower)

Mountain Cornflower, Perennial Cornflower, Mountain Bluets, Knapweed, Mountain Knapweed, Bachelor's Button, Great Blue-Bottle

Centaura Montana, Mountain Cornflower, Perennial Cornflower, Mountain Bluets, Knapweed, Mountain Knapweed, Bachelor's Button, Great Blue-Bottle , Blue flowers

Prized for its flamboyant, rich blue flowers, Centaurea montana (Mountain Cornflower) is an erect, stoloniferous, clump-forming perennial with fringed, blue flowers, 2 in. wide (5 cm), adorned with reddish blue, thistle-like centers from late spring to early summer. Attracting bees, butterflies, and other admirers, the thistle-like blossoms may bloom again in late summer-early fall. The flowers appear atop unbranched stems above the foliage of soft, gray-green, lance-shaped leaves. Native to Europe, this rhizomatous perennial will self-seed prolifically if not deadheaded and may spread fairly quickly to form colonies in satisfactory growing conditions.

  • Grows up to 12-24 in. tall (30-60 cm) and 12-18 in. wide (30-45 cm).
  • Performs best in full sun or light shade in average, dry to moist, well-drained soils. Poor soils, heat, and drought tolerant.
  • Good choice for beds and borders, cottage gardens, prairies and meadows, coastal gardens, and containers. Great as cut flowers too!
  • No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for powdery mildew.
  • Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering, and cut back in fall.
  • Propagate by division in spring or autumn.
  • Centaurea montana is native to Europe, where it grows in meadows and open woodland in the upper montane and sub-alpine zones. This popular garden perennial has become an invasive species in British Columbia, Canada.
  • Find where this species is invasive in the United States.

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 Compositae
Genus Centaurea
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"
(40cm - 50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low, Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Dry Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Centaurea Cyanus 'Jubilee Gem', Cornflower 'Jubilee Gem', Bachelor's Button 'Jubilee Gem', Blue Centaurea, Blue Cornflower, Blue Bachelor's  Button
Centaurea dealbata, Persian Cornflower,  Mealy Centaury, Purple Cornflowers
Centaurea dealbata 'John Coutts', Persian Cornflower 'John Coutts',  Mealy Centaury 'John Coutts', whitewash Cornflower 'John Coutts', Centaurea 'John Coutts' Purple Cornflowers
Centaurea Cyanus 'Black Gem', Cornflower 'Black Gem', Bachelor's Button 'Black Gem', Balck Centaurea, Black Cornflower, Black Bachelor's  Button
Centaurea Cyanus 'Pinkie', Cornflower 'Pinkie', Bachelor's Button 'Pinkie', Pink Centaurea, Pink Cornflower, Pink Bachelor's  Button
Centaurea Cyanus 'Snowman', Cornflower 'Snowman', Bachelor's Button 'Snowman', White Centaurea, White Cornflower, White Bachelor's  Button

Recommended Companion Plants

Heuchera 'Caramel', Alum Root 'Caramel', Coral Bells 'Caramel', Coral Flower 'Caramel'
Aquilegia Vulgaris, Columbine, Granny's Bonnet, European Crowfoot, European Columbine, Common Columbine, Granny's Nightcap , Blue Columbine, Purple Columbine
Hosta 'Undulata', Wavy Plantain Lily, Variegated Wavy Plantain Lily, Shade perennials, Plants for shade, Hosta Undulata var. Albomarginata, Hosta Undulata var. Erromena,Hosta Undulata var. Undulata, Hosta Undulata var. Univittata
Coreopsis Verticillata 'Moonbeam', Coreopsis Moonbeam, Tickseed Moonbeam, Threadleaf Coreopsis Moonbeam, Whorled Coreopsis Moonbeam, Drought tolerant plants, dry soil plants, heat tolerant plants, humidity tolerant plants, yellow flowersAward General
Centranthus Ruber, Red Valerian, Spanish Valerian, Spur Valerian, Jupiter's Beard, Kiss-me-quick, Pretty Betsy, Fox's Brush, German Lilac, red flowers, prink flowers, perennial plant
Lychnis Coronaria, Rose Campion, Rabbit's Ears, Crown Pink, Mullein Pink, Dry soil plant, deer resistant plant, AGM plant
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 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 Compositae
Genus Centaurea
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"
(40cm - 50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low, Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Dry Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Learn Now
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Centaurea
Guides with
Centaurea
Not sure which Centaurea to pick?
Compare Now

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