Cornflower Seeds (Centaure cyanusa)

Once a common sight in arable fields, it's now treasured for its beauty, pollinator appeal, and ease of cultivation. Cornflower is an annual that thrives in sunny, free-draining soil, and is ideal for wildflower plantings or cut flower displays.

Key Features:

• Traditional UK wildflower with bright, electric-blue blooms
• Highly attractive to pollinators including bees and butterflies
• Fast-growing and easy to establish in most soil types 
• Perfect for wildflower meadows, cottage gardens, and cut flower beds
• Edible petals: can be used as a garnish for salads, cakes and cocktails
• Approx. 200 seeds per 1g

Cornflower (Centaure cyanusa), also known as Bachelor’s Button, is a much-loved annual wildflower native to Europe and once abundant in cornfields. Its intense blue petals provide a striking splash of colour and are a favourite of bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

This upright, branching plant typically reaches 40–90 cm tall and produces numerous blooms throughout summer. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and is especially effective when sown alongside other annual wildflowers in a mixed meadow. Though it's an annual, cornflower readily self-seeds in suitable conditions, returning year after year with minimal effort.

Cornflower petals are edible and often used to add colour to dishes or herbal teas. Whether planted in borders, wildflower areas, or as part of a pollinator-friendly scheme, cornflowers deliver visual impact and ecological value in equal measure.

Sow cornflower seeds directly into well-prepared soil in early to mid-spring, once the danger of frost has passed. For a longer display, sow again in late summer or early autumn for early flowering the following year. Seeds germinate in 7–21 days in moist, warm conditions.

Choose an open, sunny location with well-drained soil. Sow thinly for a natural look or more densely for a fuller display. Lightly rake or press seeds into the surface, cornflower prefers not to be buried deeply.

Water during dry spells until established. Deadheading spent flowers will encourage further blooming, but you can also allow some plants to set seed for natural regeneration. Cornflowers grow best in low-fertility soils and need little feeding or attention once settled.

For garden applications direct sow at 1g/m2. For overseeding existing meadow planting or for new sowings on larger areas sow at a maximum of 2g/m2.

Cornflowers are ideal for wildflower meadows, borders, cottage gardens, and wildlife-friendly plots. Their nectar-rich blooms are especially valuable to pollinators such as honeybees, solitary bees, and butterflies. They also provide visual diversity and are excellent for cutting and drying.

By including cornflower in a wildflower mix, you’re helping restore a vital food source for insects, as well as preserving a native species that has declined in the wild due to changes in farming practices.

We offer a flat shipping rate of £5.99.

Garden lawn seed, wildflower seeds, and wildflower seed mixtures are typically dispatched within 1 to 3 working days.

Products from our agricultural, landscaping, and equine ranges may be shipped separately as they are mixed to order.

We aim to ensure customer satisfaction with all products supplied. If you experience any issues with your order, please contact us at info@kentseeds.co.uk within 5 working days of the dispatch date, quoting your order number and a detailed description of the issue.

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Q1: How long does it take cornflower to flower from seed?
A: Typically 10–12 weeks from spring sowing, with flowers appearing from early to mid-summer.

Q2: Can I sow cornflower in autumn?
A: Yes. Autumn sowing in mild areas can result in earlier blooms the following spring.

Q3: Do cornflowers come back every year?
A: Cornflowers are annuals, but they readily self-seed in the right conditions and may return year after year.

Q4: Can I grow cornflowers in pots?
A: Absolutely. Use a deep container with well-drained soil and position in full sun for best results.