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.
