Cornflower Native Wildflower Seed

CENTAUREA CYANUS

Cornflower is electric blue rebellion in flower form. Sharp, elegant, impossible to miss, and far too good looking for something so easy to grow.

Historically, cornflowers have had a strange and glamorous little career. They were worn by young men in love, used to ward off unwanted visitors, and found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, still holding their colour after 3,000 years. We cannot sell you a pyramid, what with planning regulations, but we can offer the next best thing.

Scatter these seeds and bring a flash of ancient Egyptian drama, French remembrance, and full botanical swagger to your garden. Sacre bleu, indeed.

Cornflowers need bare soil, sunshine, and low competition. They are annuals, so they are brilliant for quick colour from a spring sowing.

Rip - Clear weeds, grass, and debris. Rake the soil so you have a loose, open surface.

Scatter - Scatter the seed thinly across the soil. Do not pile it all in one place.

Sow - Press the seed into the surface, or cover very lightly with soil. Do not bury it deeply.

When to sow - For best results sow from March to May for flowers in the same year. You can also sow from August to November for stronger plants the following year.

Where to sow - Choose a sunny spot with open, free draining soil and very little competition. Cornflowers are perfect for annual wildflower patches, borders, bare ground, and sunny pots.

After sowing, keep the soil lightly moist while the seeds get going, especially if the weather is dry.

Once you can see green shoots, keep grass and big weeds away. Cornflowers grow quickly, but they still need light and space.

Do not feed them. Rich soil can make plants leafy and floppy. If too many seedlings appear in one clump, gently pull a few out so the strongest ones have room to flower properly.

Cornflowers usually flower from June to September, bringing vivid blue flowers that look almost too bright to be real.

They typically grow around 40 to 90 cm tall, adding height, colour, and proper cornfield drama.

They are annuals, so each plant flowers, sets seed, and completes its life cycle in one season. Leave some seed heads standing and they may self seed for another show next year. Bees love them, people love them, and frankly, blue has never looked so easy.

Yes, cornflowers grow well in pots.

Use a medium to large pot with drainage holes. Fill it with peat free, low nutrient compost, mixed with sharp sand or grit to keep it open and free draining. Avoid rich compost. Wildflowers are not here for the luxury spa treatment.

Scatter the seed thinly, press it in gently, and place the pot in full sun. Keep lightly moist while the seeds get going. Once growing, water when the compost starts to dry out.

We want your seeds to grow. If you follow our sowing instructions, give them a fair chance, and they still do not grow, we’ll put it right.

Eligible customers can choose either a refund for the seeds that did not grow, or replacement seeds of the same value.

For more information on our policy go to our No Grow No Fee page.