Cornflower Plant Profile

Cornflower Plant Profile

Cornflower (Centaurea cyana) is also known as Bachelor’s Buttons. It blooms in late spring typically in bright blue – but it is also has varieties with pink, white, or purple flowers.

The flowers resemble thistles but they are not thorny or sharp. The blooms are pollinator magnets and are often grown in cut-flower gardens.

The plants grow to between 1 to 3 feet tall and may need staking.

Cornflower is native to Europe and is used in folk medicine as an herbal digestive .

It is hardy to zones 2 to 11.

It is easy to start from seed and can self-sow prolifically. Deadhead it to limit the seed production, but note that birds love the seeds and doing this will limit their access to that food source.

Cornflower prefer full sun and well-draining soils.

It is deer- and drought-resistant. It does not need fertilizing

Cornflower: You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio and Text by Kathy Jentz

Video and Editing by Koree Perry

 

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