Do you know the cornflower plant? It produces small but incredibly pretty flowers, an intense blue that attracts a lot of attention. It doesn’t grow much; in fact, you can have it in a pot and enjoy it throughout the season, or in the garden creating a spectacular floral carpet.
Its maintenance and cultivation is really easy, but as always, we like to simplify everything so that you have a nice experience while you learn new things about plants, in this case, the cornflower, so don’t miss this special.
Origin and characteristics of the cornflower
Our protagonist it is an annual or biennial herbaceous plantIn other words, it lives a maximum of one or two years, probably originally from Europe. Today it has adapted so well to living in different conditions that it has become naturalized on all continents. It receives many common names, even I would say that it is one of the most common: cornflower, tile, blue carnations, cyaneo, Castilian sky flower, Spanish sky flower, azuletes, lanterns of the Virgin, lanterns of the fields, brush, cabezudo or azulón. Its scientific name is Centaurea cyanus.
It is characterized by growing up to a maximum height of 1 meterformed by erect and branched stems covered with villi. The leaves, which are also cottony, are linear and have longitudinal veins and measure 12 to 16mm. The flowers, which sprout in spring and summer, are composed of bracts (false petals) of green color, and florets (what we would call petals) of blue or, more rarely, white. The seeds are very small, just 2cm, and brown.
How do you take care of yourself?
If you want to get a copy, here is how to take care of it:
Location
So that the cornflower can grow and develop properly, it is very important that it is placed outsidein a sunny exposure. It can also be in semi-shadow, but it is important that the light of the sun shine directly at least 4 hours a day.
Earth
- Flower pot: you can use universal growing medium mixed with 30% perlite in equal parts.
- the garden: it is not demanding, but it is recommended that you have good sewer system.
Irrigation
The frequency of irrigation will vary depending on the season of the year in which we are, as well as its location. During the summer you have to water more often in winter, so that generally It will be watered about 3 times a week in the warmest months of the year and every 4-5 days the rest of the year.
Subscriber
Advisable to pay from early spring to late summer with liquid universal fertilizer to achieve better flowering. It is advisable to follow the indications specified on the product packaging.
Pruning
It’s not necesary. It will simply be enough to remove the withered flowers and the dry, diseased or weak leaves.
Multiplication
To get new cornflower specimens we can sow your seeds throughout the spring following this step by step:
- The first thing we will do is choose the seedbed. As such we can use flowerpots, milk containers, glasses of yogurt, … whatever we find to be waterproof. In the case of using product containers, we have to clean them well with water and make a hole for the water to drain.
- Next, we fill it with universal growing substrate for plants, or for seedlings, and water.
- Then we spread the seeds on the surface and cover them with a thin layer of substrate. It is advisable not to put many in the same seedbed, since it is likely that all or the vast majority will germinate and if they are close together they will not grow well. To give us an idea of how many can fit, say that no more than three should be put in a 10,5cm diameter pot.
- Afterwards, we water again, this time with a sprayer, and we place the seedbed in a sunny position.
Keeping the substrate moist (but not waterlogged) the seeds will germinate after 7-10 days.
Rusticity
It does not support cold or frost.
What is cornflower good for?
Ornamental
As we have seen, it is a very decorative plant with which you can decorate any sunny corner of the garden or patio. Looks great as part of a flower bed or carpetbut also in a pot as a centerpiece.
Cut flower
The flowers can be cut and placed in a vase, where with these tricks they can last us several days.
Medicinal properties
With the decoction of the flowers cornflower water is obtained, which used as an anti-inflammatory applied to the eyes. It is one of the best natural remedies to take care of the organs of vision, as it strengthens and clarifies them. Although this is not the only medicinal use it has.
This water is also useful for relieving the symptoms of rheumatism, flu and colds, cancer, infections, inflammations, eczema, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, seborrhea and even gray hair.
Cosmetics
Make-up removal lotions and mild shampoos are made.
Where do you buy?
We can get our cornflower specimen at any nursery, garden store, and local marketsespecially during the spring. Its price is very low, only 1 euro for each flowering plant, so it will be very easy for us to have a patio or garden with beautiful blue flowers .
What did you think of the cornflower?
