Organic Blue Cornflower Centaurea Cyanus
Centaurea cyanus, commonly known as cornflower or
bachelor's button, is an annual plant native to temperate Europe but
widely naturalized outside its native range. It grows up to 40-90 cm
tall with grey-green branched stems and lanceolate leaves that are 1-4
cm long. The flowers are most commonly an intense blue color and
arranged in flowerheads (capitula) of 1.5-3 with a ring of a few large,
spreading ray florets surrounding a central cluster of disc florets. The
blue pigment is protocyanin, which in roses is red. The nectar of
Centaurea cyanus is very sweet with a sugar content of 34%, making it
highly appreciated by beekeepers. The seeds of Centaurea cyanus are one
of the favorite foods of the European goldfinch. The plant was once
regarded as a weed and blunted sickles during harvesting, hence its
name.
- Sow
outdoors, March-May or August-October, where they are to flower, 0.5cm
(¼") deep, directly into finely-prepared, well-drained soil, which
has already been watered.
- Seedlings
usually appear in 14-28 days.
- Flowers:
June-September.
- Late
summer and autumn sowings will flower the following year, often earlier
than spring sowings.
