Centaurea cyanus, commonly known as cornflower or bachelor's button, is an annual flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to Europe.
In the past, it often grew as a weed in cornfields (in the broad sense of "corn", referring to grains, such as wheat, barley, rye, or oats), hence its name. It is now endangered in its native habitat by agricultural intensification, particularly by over-use of herbicides.
However, Centaurea cyanus is now also naturalised in many other parts of the world, including North America and parts of Australia through introduction as an ornamental plant in gardens and as a seed contaminant in crop seeds.
Centaurea cyanus is an annual plant growing to 40–90 cm tall, with grey-green branched stems. The leaves are lanceolate and 1–4 cm long.
The flowers are most commonly an intense blue colour and arranged in flowerheads (capitula) of 1.5–3 cm diameter, with a ring of a few large, spreading ray florets surrounding a central cluster of disc florets.
The blue pigment is protocyanin, which in roses is red. Fruits are approx. 3.5 mm long with 2–3 mm long pappus bristles.
It flowers all summer.
*Wiki
Cornflower (Black Ball) - Centaurea Cyanus
- Cornflower ‘Black Ball’ has intensely dark purple blooms which contrast beautifully with tall silver stems that are perfect for cutting.
- Cornflowers, also known as bachelor buttons, adapt to a variety of soils and thrive in full sun or partial shade.
- These versatile plants are also heat and drought tolerant, and are ignored by deer.
- ‘Black Ball’ is equally at home in beds and borders as well as meadow gardens where it attracts numerous pollinators and beneficial insects.
- Flower petals are edible and can be sprinkled on salads, cottage cheese, and desserts.