Description: Bachelor's button grows one to three feet tall with innumerable fluffy but trim round flowers held above the rather sparse, long and narrow gray-green leaves. The habit of growth is relatively loose, except with compact new cultivars.
The inhabitant of Europe has such common names as Cornflower, Basket flower, Boutonniere and Bluebottle.
The plant may reach the length of 90 cm being borne on grey-greenish branch-like stems. The leaves of Bachelor’s button grow to 1-4 cm. Its blossoms usually come in bright blue color, being borne in flower heads named capitula with the diameter up to3 cm. The blooms represent a ring of a several big florets that surround a central cluster of disc florets.
Centaurea cyanus is cultivated as a gardening ornamental plant with other cultivars coming in such pastel colors as pink and purple. Sometimes the plant serves as a culinary ornament. It makes a tea component and is popular in the Lady Grey blend of Twinings.
Propagation: To grow seedlings indoors, germinate at 65 degrees Fahrenheit four weeks before planting out. Germination time is 7 to 14 days.
Scientific name: Centaurea cyanus
How to grow: Full sun in Average soil is good. For earliest bloom, sow seeds outdoors in the fall so they will start to grow before the first frost and bloom the next spring. Otherwise, sow seeds outdoors as early in the spring as the soil can be worked. Thin to 8 to 12 inches apart. Having the botanical name of Centaurea cyanus, the annual flowering plant Bachelor’s button represents the family Asteraceae.
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