Garden Cornflower
Centaurea cyanus
- Native to:
- Albania, Bulgaria, East Aegean Is., Greece, Italy, Lebanon-Syria, NW. Balkan Pen., Romania, Sicilia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe
TeunSpaans
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Centaurea
- Species:
- Centaurea cyanus
- USDA Symbol:
- CECY2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- blue, purple, pink, white, red
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in nutrient-poor conditions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–14 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best in cool conditions and require darkness; direct sow in fall or early spring.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months.