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Cornflower

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description Cornflower Overview

Centaurea cyanus, the cornflower or bachelor's button, is an annual flowering plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae, native to Europe and associated historically with arable fields. Its flower heads are most often an intense blue, although cultivated forms can show other colors, and the species is now naturalized in many regions outside its original range. The blue cornflower became a symbol associated with Prussia and Germany and is also the national flower of Estonia, making it relevant to both botany and cultural history.

help Cornflower FAQ

What is Centaurea cyanus, and why is it called a bachelor's button?

Centaurea cyanus is the botanical name for cornflower, an annual in the daisy family, Asteraceae. The name bachelor's button comes from its long association with blue flowers worn or carried as a traditional romantic symbol.

Are cornflowers always blue?

Wild cornflowers are most often an intense blue, which is why cornflower blue became a named color. Cultivated varieties can also produce pink, white, lavender, or mixed-color flowers.

Where do cornflowers grow naturally?

Cornflower is native to Europe and historically grew among arable crops such as wheat and rye. Modern farming methods have reduced many of those wild field populations, although the plant is widely grown in gardens.

Is cornflower an annual or perennial plant?

Cornflower is generally grown as an annual, completing its life cycle from seed to flower and seed within one growing season. It can return in later years when its seeds naturally self-sow.

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