Cornflowers - Deep Blue Beauty
Cornflowers - or Centaurea - are prized for their deep blue color - but they
come in shades of red, pink and white as well. They are called cornflowers
because they used to grow wild in the cornfields of Europe, and they can still
be found along the wayside there. In some cases they have been wiped out of
their native habitat due to the use of herbicides.
Luckily they are thriving in the gardens of many other countries where they
never fail to delight those who love blue flowers - as blue seems to be the
color mostly grown. Cornflowers are also called bachelor’s buttons, basket
flowers, bluebottles or mountain bluet depending on the species.
The center of the flower is a cluster of disc florets from the edges of which
ray florets spread in a fringe effect, either in a double or a single. The
diameter varies between about 1.5 to 3cm, depending on the type. The leaves are
of a pretty gray green and look spiky like a thistle, but are not. Herbalists
claim that a decoction made of cornflower leaves is very soothing to the eyes.
Cornflowers will burst into bloom around late spring. Their height varies with
the type of species or cultivars and can range from as small as 10 inches for
the midget varieties - great for edging - to 30 inches and 48 inches for the
basket species.
The taller varieties are valued as cut flowers as they last for a long time and
can even be dried by cutting the fresh flowers after all dew has dried and
hanging a bunch upside down in a dark airy place for a few weeks. They even keep
their color.
Cornflowers can be either annual or perennial and they are easy to grow from
seed, germinating in 7 to 10 days for annuals and a little longer for
perennials. They grow in any kind of soil - though they do best in soil that is
slightly alkaline. While the blooms don’t last more than two or three weeks, you
can stagger the sowings to get a constant supply all summer. In fact the seed
can be started off indoors to ensure early blooms.
Make sure you plant the seeds about half an inch deep as these seeds need to be
in darkness to germinate. Cover the seed trays with plastic to keep them moist
and warm. They need to be out in the garden before they reach four inches for
the best growth.
Garden Flowers
See how to grow all your favorite flowers in Plants A to Z!
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