Scientific Name : Centaurea cyanus

Planting : Calculate the area where you want to plant the Cornflowers. Each plant should ideally have  23cm / 9” of space around it. Sow the seeds in early spring for summer blooming plants. In milder climates, you can sow the seeds in early Autumn for blooms the following spring and summer.

Sun preference :  Centaurea cyanus thrives in full sun.

Plant Type : Hardy Annual 

Appearance :  Each flower head consists of 25 to 35 florets, with large ray flowers around the outer edge and shorter disk flowers in the centre. The colour of the ray flowers can range from blue to purple to pink to white. 

Harvesting : Cut the flowers early in the morning when they are fully open. Use sharp scissors or secateurs to make a clean cut just above a leaf node at a slight angle. Place the cut Cornflowers in a vase filled with warm water and floral preservative. Harvest when blooms are one-quarter to half way open. If picking the entire spray then harvest when half the flowers on the spray are open.

Days to full Maturity: 65-80days 

Vase Life : 7 – 10 days. Change the water every couple of days to keep it fresh and clear. Trim the stems by about an inch every 4 to 5 days. Make sure to cut at an angle to prevent the stems from resting flat on the bottom of the vase, which can impede water uptake. Remove any foliage or flowers that show signs of wilting or damage to maintain the overall health of the arrangement.

Special Features : The edible flowers of cornflower can be used for culinary decoration and herbal remedies like treating conjunctivitis. People take cornflower tea to treat fever, constipation, water retention, and chest congestion. They also take it as a tonic, bitter, and liver and gallbladder stimulant.

Design features: I love using these as a floating flower. These look wonderful in a wildflower meadow arrangement and are also wonderful in wearables.