Types of Cornflower
Cornflowers, also known by the more common name of bachelor buttons, are a common wild flower with gardeners. Cornflowers grow in the two basic forms of plants, annual and perennial. In both types of cornflowers they offer one of the truest blue colors in nature and are a prized addition to add a splash of color to the garden. Does this Spark an idea?
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Cornflower as an Annual
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With silver to gray foliage and slender stems 12 to 18 inches tall, the annual bachelor button is a perfect flower for a wildflower bed. As an annual, bachelor buttons are easy to seed in early spring for mid-summer blooms. Collecting seed heads in the fall allows for reseeding in spring. In some areas that are more protected, seeds may winter over in the garden, but young plants might be difficult to identify. Annual cornflowers come in handful of colors, including light blue, medium blue, blue violet, pink and white.
Cornflower as a Perennial
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Perennial gardeners can take advantage of cornflowers true blue flowers with a compact plant growing 12 to 24 inches tall. This perennial is hardy from USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8. With a late spring to early summer bloom time of six to eight weeks, this plant gives gardeners a lot of color with easy care. With dead heading, the blooms can be prolonged even further. Perennial varieties also include shades of white, pink, violet and yellow.
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Cornflowers by Other Names
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Cornflowers are known by a handful of names. The most common name is bachelor button. Cornflowers are from the family of Asteraceae-Aster family and within that family the cornflowers genus name is centaurea. Centaurea montana refers to the most common of the perennials and centaurea cyanus refers to the annual variety of bachelor button. You might also hear the perennial variety called Mountain Bluet referring to the blue variety that is most common. Occasionally, you might also find these flowers referred to as basket flower.
Uses and Care of Cornflowers
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Annual cornflowers make wonderful cut flowers especially in wildflower arrangements. Flowers from either perennial or annual plants retain a beautiful color when pressed in the pages of a phone book, making them a terrific pressed flower for crafts. Cornflowers prefer a well-drained soil with moderate moisture and are drought tolerant. These plants prefer to be in a full-sun location. Cornflowers are best planted in wild flower or cottage gardens where they fit in with a more informal look.
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References
- Photo Credit butterfly on bachelor button image by passion4nature from Fotolia.com
