Centaurea cyanus
Native wildflower
An entirely uncomplicated summer flower. If you love blue, this one will be right up your alley.
Combined with the common poppy and chamomile, it once grew happily (and prettily!) alongside fields. Sadly, it's becoming rarer and rarer in nature due to intensive fertilisation and the use of pesticides.
If you can take a little time to deadhead it will reward and delight you with more and more blossoms. Bees, bumblebees and butterflies adore it.
Wonderful planted together with field poppies. Or daisies. Or chamomile.
Excellent for natural gardens and flower meadows and good cut and/or dried flowers.
Cornflowers prefer chalky, well-drained soil and a sunny, sheltered position.
Sow thinly or in rows and cover with soil. Do not transplant the seedlings, they don't like moving home.
Height: 30cm (12") to 80cm (32")
Hardiness: Annual
Where: Full sun
When: March to May straight outside.
Spacing: 20cm (8")
Harvesting/Flowering: July to August
A paradise for insects
Photos 1 & 2: Janina Laszlo
