Centaurea cyanus, Tall Blue Boy - 125 Seed Pack - Bachelor Buttons - Annual - Global Shipping - New

Centaurea is a large genus of about 450 species of annuals, biennials, perennials, and shrubs in the family Asteraceae. Members of this genus are mostly from Europe and the Mediterranean. They are cultivated for their fringed flowers in shades of pink, yellow, white, and true blue. The bracts often have toothed or spiny tips in white or black. Use Centaurea in borders, rock gardens, as bedding, or for naturalizing.

Centaurea cyanus or Cornflowers as they are commonly known are most noted for their intense blue flowers, said to be the most intense blue in the plant kingdom. They are excellent in flower beds, wild gardens, rockeries and are also very useful as cut flowers. Cornflowers are frost hardy annuals that will flower from November to late summer in the southern hemisphere.

It prefers a sunny, well drained location in the garden, where they will attract butterflies, and will grow 40-90 cm in height. Its rich shades of blue are much sought after, both for garden decoration and for flower arrangements. They are also known as Bachelor Buttons and Bluebonnet and are native to Europe. In folklore, cornflowers were worn by young men in love; if the flower faded too quickly, it was taken as a sign that the man's love was not returned. In herbalism a decoction of cornflowers is effective in treating conjunctivitis, and as a wash for tired eyes.