Perennial Cornflower (Centaurea montana) sometimes called Perennial Bachelor’s Buttons.
This exceptional June-blooming perennial will be at home in any garden. It is perfect for cottage gardens, perennial borders, and wildlife gardens. It is very showy, with upright stems holding colourful thistle-like blooms. This was one of my grandmother’s favourites. Over the years, I have planted cornflower in three different colours—blue, hot pink, and white. However, the white seems to have disappeared. Oops!
Cornflower is happy growing in full sun or a bit of shade – not too much shade, or it won’t bloom. Foliage is silver-green with deep lobes (cuts), attractive after blooms are finished. Long-lived, it can re-seed easily if you don’t deadhead the faded flowers. If you want new plants, leave the seed heads. Make sure to water well (at least twice a week) in the first growing season. Cornflower is considered drought tolerant once established. Low maintenance. Cutback in spring, feed, and you’re good to go. It does well in various soils, from quick-draining sandy soil to light clay. However, it will not thrive when placed in a garden with wet soil or standing water.
Butterflies, native bees, and honeybees are attracted to cornflowers’ flowers. Plant them with early-blooming perennials like poppies, perennial geranium, German iris, spring alliums, flowering peony, or spiderwort. Cornflowers are excellent as cut flowers.
