Centaurea cyanus ‘Black Boy’ | Cornflower | Bachelor's Buttons Flower Seeds

$1.50
Deutscher Name:
Kornblume
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Centaurea commonly known as Hardheads, Knapweed, Basket flower, Bachelor’s buttons, Bluebottle, Cornflower, Giant knapweed, Mountain bluet, are annuals, biennials, perennials and subshrubs found in dry sites, including woodland, rocky mountain slopes, subalpine meadows and sand dunes. They occur mainly in Europe and the Mediterranean with a few in Asia, Australia and North America. Centaurea are copious nectar producers especially on high lime soils. The high nectar yield makes it very attractive to insects such as butterflies including the endangered Karner blue which visits introduced spotted knapweed and day flying moths. Larvae of several true weevils also feed on the plants. This very high nectar production, coupled with its early blooming period, makes the plant helpful for the establishment of bee colonies in spring, a period that is often not well-served by commercial flower meadow seed mixes. Some perennials are grown as summer bedding annuals. Low maintenance. 

USES: Borders, Rock Gardens, Wildflower gardens, Perennial gardens, Cut flowers, Bee and Butterfly gardens

TOLERATES: Drought, Poor soils, No fertilization, Deer

Botanical Name: Centaurea cyanus ‘Black Boy’

Common Name: Bachelor’s buttons, Bluebottle, Cornflower, Kornblume

Type: Erect Annual

Flower Color: Deep maroon, almost black with fully double flowers. Bright green leaves 4-8 in. (10-20cm) long

Flowering Time: Late spring to Midsummer

Plant Height: 3 ft. (1m)

Plant Width: 30 in. (75cm)

Light Requirements: Full Sun

Water Requirements: Average / Moist

Soil Requirements: Average, Clay, Loam (Silt), High Organic Matter

AHS Heat Zone: 7-1

Misc: Plant reseed and naturalize easily

Sowing Instructions (Cliff Notes Version): May be sown in early autumn to flower early the next year in peat pots to avoid root disturbance

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