Scientific Name:
Centaurea cyanus
Pronunciation:
sen-tore-EE-uh
Common Name:
cornflower
Family Name:
Asteraceae
Plant Type:
Annual (true), Invasive plant
Key ID Features:
Leaves sheathing, lanceolate, 10-15cm long x 2-4cm wide, entire or less commonly lobed; flower heads 3-4cm wide, commonly blue with purpish centres, whorls of bracts below with black margins, May-Jun.
Habit:
Spreading, Upright
Form:
Oval - horizontal
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Central / west Asia, Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Attract birds, Attract butterflies, Bedding plant, Cut flower or foliage, Perennial border
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Pubescent
Colour in Fall:
Green
Shapes:
Elliptic, Lanceolate, Ovate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Cuneate
Margins:
Entire, Pinnately lobed
Inflorescence Type:
Head (capitulum)
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Corolla Shape:
Ligulate
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Blue, Purple, Pink
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun
Fruit Type:
Achene
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Oct, Nov
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Organ Modifications:
Runners (or stolons)
Propagation:
Seed
Maintenance:
Low
Other:
Deadhead to prevent excessive spreading
Pest Susceptibility:
Aphids or adelgids, Mealybugs, Root rot, Rust, Wilt (Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant)
