Cornflower
Centaurea cyanus
These perky flowers are a welcome spring sight. Flowering in blue, white, pink, lavender, and purple-to-black, Bachelor's Buttons self-seed freely, even in poor quality soil. Centaurea benefits from nylon netting to keep from flopping over, however the netting can make it harder to harvest. Close planting can help plants from flopping. Flowers are edible and attractive to beneficials. In the cottage garden, they look wonderful en masse.
How to Grow Cornflower
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Beneficial Critters
Growing from Seed
Centaurea grows easily from seed, and can be sowed outside as soon as the soil can be worked. Cover lightly. Self-seeded seedlings can be easily transplanted if in an undesirable spot.
Planting Considerations
Plant your Bachelor's Buttons in a garden area where it can self sow freely, along with Love in a Mist (Nigella) and Larkspur.
Harvesting
Harvest when flowers are 1/3 open. They are long-lasting accent flowers in the vase.
