Wikimedia Commons
Asteraceae
Cornflower
Centaurea cyanus
Hope and remembrance.
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Genus
- Centaurea
- Native to
- Europe
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Type
- annual
- Height
- 1-3 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- Well-drained, poor to moderate fertility
- Water
- low to moderate
- Hardiness
- 2-11
- Lifespan
- annual
Did you know
- Cornflowers were once so common in European grain fields that they were considered a weed—now they are rare due to herbicide use.
- The vivid blue pigment has been used as a natural dye and food colorant for centuries, including in Lady Grey tea blends.
- Napoleon Bonaparte used the cornflower as a personal symbol after hiding in a cornflower field as a child.
- Cornflower blue is one of the few true blue pigments found in nature, caused by a complex of anthocyanins and metal ions.
- The flowers are edible and are commonly used as a decorative garnish in salads and cocktails.
Color meanings
0
hope
1
delicacy
2
fidelity