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Cornflower

Centaurea cyanus

Category: Flowers

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

Quick Info

Spacing
8/Square
Depth
0.3 in
0.3 in
Sun
Full Sun
Water
1 in/week
Season
Cool
Frost
Tolerant
Height
2-4 ft
Germination
7-14 days
Germination Temp
60-70 °F
Sprout to Harvest
65-75 days
Soil pH

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Varieties

Bachelor's Button Pink
Bachelor's Button Pink This soft pink, long-stemmed bloomer is valued for cut flower arrangements, garden borders, and its versatile, mild-flavored edible petals.
Black Boy
Black Boy Lovely, nearly black, glistening flowers are perfect for the old-fashioned cottage garden. Colorful and unique.
Black Magic Bachelor's Button
Black Magic Bachelor's Button Vivid, edible petals make it a versatile choice for culinary garnishes and arrangements, plus it self-sows reliably.
Blue Boy
Blue Boy A self-seeding annual featuring dazzling sky-blue double flowers that are easy to grow and offer versatile uses, including edible petals.
Blue and Breezy Flax
Blue and Breezy Flax This resilient cornflower produces 1-inch, sky-blue flowers daily, ensuring continuous color and attracting pollinators and birds.
Classic Artistic Mix
Classic Artistic Mix Balanced mix of two-toned bachelor's buttons: blue, burgundy, red, rose, pink, and white. Great for beds, borders, and cut flowers!
Classic Fantastic
Classic Fantastic Gorgeous range of blue shades, pollinator magnet, great addition to the cutting garden, edible flowers.
Classic Magic Mix
Classic Magic Mix Dramatic purple and black tones. Mystical blend of plum, aubergine, and lilac. Edible flowers. Attracts pollinators.
View all 16 varieties →

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.

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