Centaurea cyanus

Centaurea cyanus, also called Cornflower or Blue Barbeau, is a vigorously self-seeding annual flower that was once widespread in the Western European countryside.

The leaves are very narrow, long and grayish-green.

Its small, incredibly blue flowers add a touch of charm to even the smallest flowerbed. This flowering is very melliferous and nectariferous.

Planted in large clumps, scattered here and there among other plants, these flowers are perfect in country bouquets, and the plants bloom for months if care is taken to remove the faded flowers.

🌿REWILD Europe🌿:

Participate in the rewilding of Western Europe!

In agroecosystems, a decline in biological diversity caused by the intensification of agricultural practices is currently being observed. […] Specific biological traits could explain the decline of some and the success of others. Thus, better understanding the biological causes of regression would allow for the implementation of management strategies in these intensive agricultural systems. The cornflower (Centaurea cyanus L.) is an agroecosystem specialist wildflower that is currently declining in western Europe.

• Les causes biologiques de la régression du bleuet (Centaurea cyanus L.)

👨‍🌾 GARDENING TIPS👨‍🌾:

• • The edible flowers can be used to decorate summer salads.
  • Blooming: this plant will bloom for months if care is taken to remove the faded flowers.
  • As this plant has grown up as a wildflower, it does have invasive tendencies – though as it is native to Europe, it is not an issue for the local ecosystems.
  • Just beware that your palette can become very blue very quickly if you let nature take its course.
  • Cornflowers are perfect in flower meadows, sown in a mixture with poppies, Iberis, borage, and cosmos.

The Tale

Centaurea, the genus name, comes from the Centaur Chiron, who used the flowers of this plant as a poultice to cover an infected wound made by an arrow dipped in Hydra’s (the lake monster) blood.

The wound was cured and so, the story goes, Cornflowers were given the name Centaurea.

Cyanus refers to the cyan blue color of the flowers.

Other Names

Cornflower

Bachelor’s button

Origin

Europe