The little blue flower, which was once considered an annoying weed of the cornfields, became the much-loved decoration of the cottage, vegetable, and wildlife-friendly gardens. Although very low in care demands, cornflower still needs care and certain conditions to grow. Here are the tips on how to grow it successfully.

The little resistant flower

Cornflower is an annual plant grown from seeds. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, and it’s native to Europe and Asia. Although in the beginning it was considered a blue-flowered weed, with increasing growth of the usage in flower gardens, the colour range changed from blue to different shades of pink, purple, white, red, and dark brown(black).

The flowering period for the cornflowers is early to late summer. They can resist mild freezing temperatures, so they can be among the first flowering summer flowers. The height of the plants depends on the variety, but they are never above 1m tall. They don’t take up much space, so they can be sown together. They can be used in pots or in the normal flower beds, especially to attract bees, moth and butterflies. The bugs love the little flowers.

Growing Cornflower is easy

Cornflowers can be started inside or directly in the garden. They need temperatures over 10°C(50°F) to germinate, so in cooler places it would be wise to start them indoors. It will take them up to 14 days to germinate. Once the seeds germinate, seedlings will grow in mild spring temperatures, but they can survive temperatures as low as -5°C(23°F). They thrive in well-drained soil, but can be grown in any soil. It needs full sun to grow, although it can be grown even in partial to full shade. I’ve grown my Cornflowers in areas that are fully shaded, and they always bloom. They weren’t as tall as in the sun, but they did flower and produce seeds.

Propagation of the Cornflowers

Cornflowers propagate easily from seeds. They can self-sow, but can also be easily sown in early spring or autumn. The autumn flowers will germinate in the spring, while the spring ones will bloom in the same year they have been sown.

The seeds are produced in the middle of the flower once the petals dry. Once the flower completely dries seeds can be removed from the head. The seeds look like tiny torpedoes with hairy ends.

Perennial Cornflowers (Centaurea montana) can be grown from cuttings, but this is not the case with Cyanus. Once the plant stops flowering and produces seeds, it will slowly die.

Cornflowers are edible. In young plants, both leaves and shoots are edible and can be used in salads, while in older plants frowers are the edible part. Flowers can be quite durable, so they are often used in confectionery as flower decorations on cakes and pastries.

One major issue with Cronflowers is wind. The wind can be a very big problem for Cornflowers, as the wind will roll them on the floor, so they will need support in the windy areas.

Cornflowers are a great addition to cottage gardens, bringing vibrant colors to the beds. Due to its height and possible wind damage, they will work great close to a wall or fence.

Summary:

Height: up to 1m (6.5ft)

Color: blue, white, pink, red, purple

Soil: well-drained soil

When to sow: early spring, late summer

Germination time: 14 days

Maturing time: 70- 90 days, depending on variety

Frost temperature: -5°C (23°F)

Garden area: full sun

Flowering period: early summer

Maintenance: low

Atracts: bees, moths, butterflies

Pests: usually pest-free, but can attract snails or aphids