Organic cornflower

$4.49

Online price only.

Organic Cornflower ‘Bleuet’ is an iconic annual flower that brings a rustic lightness and a stunning blue intensity to the garden, reminiscent of wild meadows and vibrant vegetable patches of yesteryear. From the species Centaurea cyanus, it stands out for its abundant flowering, slender silhouette, and ease of cultivation, even for beginner gardeners. Planted in the vegetable garden, as a border, or in a naturalist flowerbed, it attracts a host of bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, enhancing the garden's biodiversity and ecological balance. Its presence is not limited to ornamentation, as its edible flowers also add color and delicacy to dishes, from salads to fresh cheeses and cold platters. Undemanding, it tolerates poor soils as long as they are well-drained, withstands some drought, and continues to bloom generously in good summer light. By allowing some flowers to go to seed, its presence in the garden is naturally extended through spontaneous self-seeding, which is often reliable and graceful. Over the weeks, it creates a poetic scene where utility, beauty, and horticultural simplicity meet in rare harmony. It is a generous and luminous plant, perfect for enriching the garden with a useful, melliferous, and deeply vibrant bloom.

Growing conditions

Watering
Weak
Exposure
Sun to partial shade
Germination temperature
15 to 20 °C (59 to 68 °F)
Germination (days)
7 to 14 days

Growth & dimensions

Spread
30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 in.)
Height
60 to 80 cm (24 to 31 in)
Sowing depth
0.2 in (0.5 cm)

Flowering & harvest

Flowering
June to August
Sowing period
Spring, direct sowing
Harvest
Around 85 days
Use
edible flower, infusions, natural dye, flowerbeds, pollinators
Companion plants
carrot, lettuce, cucumber, peas, herbs
Incompatible plants
none known