Cornflower
Centaurea cyanus
Cornflowers are hardy annuals with vivid blue (also pink, white and maroon) fringed flowers, once common in British cornfields. They are easy from seed and excellent for cutting and pollinators.
Photo: Orikrin1998 · CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Low
Water seedlings; established plants tolerate dry spells.
Soil
Well-drained, average soil; pH 6.0–7.5.
Temperature and humidity
-10–30 °C · Low humidity
Feeding
No feeding needed.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by seed
Deadhead or cut flowers often.
Cornflowers are not toxic, and the petals are edible.
Top Cultivation Tips
Sow in fall or early spring where they are to flower.
Great in wildflower mixes.
Dried petals keep their colour.
Self-seeds lightly.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →DiseasePowdery mildew
A fungal disease that coats leaves, buds and young shoots with a white, flour-like dust, weakening the plant and spoiling flowers and fruit.
How to treat it →
