Cornflower
Centaurea cyanus
The cornflower is a hardy annual wildflower native to the UK, once a common sight in cereal fields before modern agriculture nearly eradicated it. Its vivid, true-blue flowers bloom from June to August and are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hoverflies. Modern garden varieties come in pink, white, maroon, and bicolour forms. Easy to grow from seed, cornflowers are perfect for cottage gardens, wildflower meadows, and naturalistic planting schemes.
Full growing guide
How to Grow Cornflowers in the UK
How to grow cornflower
Sow seed directly outdoors from March to May for summer flowers, or in September for earlier blooms the following year. Scatter seed thinly and rake in lightly — cover with no more than 1 cm of soil. Thin seedlings to 20-25 cm apart. Choose a sunny spot with poor to average, well-drained soil. Like many wildflowers, cornflowers flower best in lean conditions. Do not feed. Water only during prolonged dry spells. Tall varieties may need support from twiggy sticks. Deadhead spent flowers to extend the blooming period. Alternatively, leave some heads to set seed for self-sowing — cornflowers naturalise freely and will reappear year after year. The flowers are edible and can be dried for tea or used as a garnish.
Pruning
No pruning required. Deadhead to prolong flowering or leave seed heads for birds and self-sowing. Pull up spent plants in autumn.
Propagation
- Seed (sow directly March-May or September)
- Self-seeding
Common problems
- Powdery mildew
- Rust
- Aphids
- Lodging in exposed sites
Good companions
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