The cornflower not only provides food for many insects, but is also popular in the kitchen. Their valuable ingredients can help against a wide variety of ailments.
The cornflower (Cyanus segetum) usually inspires with its bright blue flowers, but can also bloom in other colors. We present the most beautiful varieties and give helpful tips on sowing, care and use.
Cornflower: flowering period, origin and properties
The blue flowers of the cornflower are known to most people. They are often found together with the corn poppy in parks or in flower strips next to grain fields. Since they used to like to grow in the middle of the field, the name of the cornflower is probably not far-fetched. The cornflower blooms from May to September and you can enjoy its showy but odorless flowers. These are often visited by bees and insects. The plant, also known as cyanide, is now rarely found growing wild in the field. But are cornflowers therefore protected? No, cornflowers are on the Red List early warning list, but they are not yet protected by law.
The annual, herbaceous plant originally comes from the Mediterranean region and has spread to Central, Eastern and Western Europe with the help of humans. It belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae), formerly belonged to the genus Knapweed (Centaurea), but is now in the genus Blueknapweed ( cyanus). The cornflower grows upright and has various shaped leaves covered with downy hairs. Upper cornflower leaves are usually entire and lanceolate, while lower leaves are serrated and divided. Cornflowers can grow up to 90cm tall and come in a variety of varieties for the garden. Since the cornflower contains ingredients such as flavonoids, tannins and bitter substances, it was used as a medicinal plant in the past. Today it is sometimes still used in the kitchen, where the flowers are mainly used to decorate dishesbecome.
Are cornflowers perennial? No, cornflowers are annual plants, so they don't sprout again the next year. However, by self-sowing, the cornflowers multiply in suitable locations and new plants are created.
Confounding cornflowers: The various representatives of the knapweed (Centaurea) look relatively similar to the cornflower. However, knapweeds have broader, mostly incised leaves. The common chicory (Cichorium intybus) also looks a little like the cornflower. However, if you look closely, you can recognize it by the differently shaped small flowers.
The most beautiful varieties
There are some garden varieties of the cornflower that impress with their differently colored flowers. Here are a few:
- Cyanus segetum 'Blue Ball': This variety comes in the classic cornflower blue and has double flowers that are even more lush appear. It can reach heights of 80 cm. Unfortunately, double varieties like 'Blue Ball' are less bee-friendly.
- Cyanus segetum 'Classic Romantic': You get several colors in one flower with the variety 'Classic Romantic'. The flowers are patterned pink and white, sometimes with a higher proportion of white, sometimes with more pink in the flower. The growth height is 60 - 90 cm.
- Cyanus segetum 'Rote Lola': A pink cornflower is the cultivar 'Rote Lola', which can grow up to 80 cm tall can be.
- Cyanus segetum 'Black Ball': The dark red-violet of the cornflower 'Black Ball' appears almost black. At around 60 cm, it remains slightly smaller than most other varieties.
- Cyanus segetum 'Blauer Junge': The cornflower 'Blauer Junge' blooms in a strong blue and has full flowers. It will be 50 - 70 cm high.
Sowing and planting cornflowers
Cornflowers are a real eye-catcher in the garden and moreovereasy-care. The easiest way to establish cornflowers is to sow them.
The right place for cornflowers
A suitable location for the cornflower is sunny and not too rich in nutrients. The soil should be loose, permeable, and preferably slightly calcareous. The cornflower can also cope with sandy soil.
Cornflowers in mixed cultivation: Visually and also in terms of site requirements, poppies (Papaver rhoeas) or daisies ( Leucanthemum) excellent with cornflowers. Since the cornflower is a magnet for beneficial insects, it is often included in seed mixes for flower meadows.
Instructions for sowing cornflowers
Since the cornflower is not a perennial, it has to be sown again every year unless it self-seeds. Sowing cornflowers is very easy:
- Apply seeds between March and April
- If you sow later, the plants stay smaller
- Sow in small groups of about 3-10 plants
- Keep planting distance of about 30 cm
- Cover the seeds only lightly with soil, since the cornflower germinates in the sun
- Germination after about 14 days
Cornflowers in pots: Cornflowers can be kept in pots, for example in balcony boxes, without any problems. Since the cornflower develops quite deep roots, the pot should be at least 30 cm high. In addition, a drainage layer is absolutely necessary so that the water can run off well. You can make these out of potsherds, expanded clay or pebbles. It is best to use high-quality potting soil mixed with a third of sand as a substrate. Our Plantura organic potting soil, for example, is a good basis, as it has a high humus content and is great at storing water. In addition, it does not require peat and, thanks to its natural ingredients, does not pose a problem for pets and garden animals. The expanded clay content in our soil also benefits the cornflower, as it increases permeability. You are welcome to mix in more expanded clay, then the cornflower will feel all the more comfortable.
The right care
Since the cornflower is an easy-care plant, there is actually not much to do after successful germination in suitable locations.
The cornflower usually gets along very well with conditions that are quite poor in nutrients and does not require any additional fertilizer. Only in special cases, that means very muchPoor locations or in tubs, if the cornflower grows in very old or reused potting soil, fertilization just before flowering makes sense. In this case, use a complete fertilizer that provides all the nutrients, such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer. Our fertilizer not only supports your plants, but also soil life. A weak dosage is sufficient for the cornflower. Incidentally, over-fertilization is indicated by a lack of flowering or by limp leaves. In addition to spider mites and aphids, over-fertilization is the most common cause of sick cornflowers.
Tip: In the daisy family, the flower head consists of many small individual flowers, which are often mistaken for simple petals. The outer ring of flowers is sterile, only the central tubular flowers are fertile.
You only have to water the cornflower during prolonged dry periods or in midsummer. Avoid waterlogging, especially with plants in pots, and make sure that the water can drain off easily.
Pruning is not necessary, but you can get the cornflower to bloom again by removing the dried inflorescences.
Are cornflowers hardy? Cornflowers are not hardy, but annual plants that do not sprout again the following year.
Propagating cornflowers
The best way to propagate cornflowers is by sowing, for which you can also collect the seeds from the flowers yourself. After flowering and successful fertilization, the pappus, which is typical of the daisy family, forms. This one looks hairy-furry and sits on top of the fruit. The cornflower seeds can be harvested from this point in time and should be stored dry until sowing next spring.
Are cornflowers edible?
The blossoms of the cornflower are edible and look very decorative on dishes and in salads. The entire flower should not be used. It is better to pluck out the individual small flowers. In contrast to the flowers, the calyx and the leaves do not taste spicy, but rather bitter. The cornflower is therefore not poisonous, as it was even used for healing in the past.
Effects and uses of the cornflower
The cornflower is not used in medicine todayspecial importance to. However, since it contains some medicinally active ingredients such as mucilage and bitter substances, it was used in the past to treat digestive problems, insect bites and chronic coughs, among other things. For example, the dried seeds were used for this. A blue flower tincture made from cornflower blossoms and many other blue-flowering herbs is also said to help against restlessness. For a cornflower tea, you can dry the cornflower blossoms or use them fresh.
The blue flower tincture also contains borage. With us you will learn everything about planting, care and harvest.