Cornflower Plant – Caring for Bachelor’s Button
Cornflower How and When to Plant Bachelor’s Button
The Bachelor’s Button is an annual flowering perennial that is also commonly known as the cornflower. Its binomial name is Centaurea cyanus and it belongs to the Asteraceae family. It was seen very commonly in the corn fields in the past and hence it is known as the cornflower. The Bachelor’s Button is a very common plant now used in many garden landscapes. The main attraction of this plant is its bright coloured fringed flowers. They can be used as border plants, in rock gardens and can be planted in areas where there is enough sun.
Description of the Bachelor’s Button Plant
This is an annual flowering plant that grows to a height of 16 to 35 inches. The stems of these plants are grey-green in colour and are branched. The flowers grow in the multi-branching stems and are mainly seen in a bright blue colour. The other colours of the Bachelor’s Button flower are white, pink and red shades. The cornflower plant is a reseeding one and they might have single or double blooms. So, once you plant the Bachelor’s Button plant you need not worry about the plant because it grows every year and it reseeds freely this does not mean it is invasive in any way. The plant needs very little maintenance and is ideal as border plants.
How to Grow Bachelor’s Button Plant
The cornflower plant is a quick growing plant and prefers to grow in full sun planted in all climatic zones of Australia. In the right climate, they look great planted in fields or en masse multiplying around the countryside. You may also buy a packet of wildflower mixed seeds or a packet of bee and butterfly cottage garden mix they will also contain poppies, borage and cornflowers – Batchelor’s Button seeds for planting in your garden. The plants will tolerate light shade but will not grow well in full shade. These flowers will thrive in average to rich garden soil, but the soil should be a well-draining one. The bedding plants need to be placed 6 to 12 inches away from each other to give the seedlings space to grow and expand. Once the plant gets established, it will be able to tolerate drought a fair bit. Like all plants, they need moderate watering during long dry periods.
How to Plant Bachelor’s Button Seeds
- The Cornflower seeds need a dark area to germinate.
- Start sowing the seeds indoors in pots or containers or in grow bags in early spring.
- Make sure that you cover the seeds with fine soil to allow them to grow.
- The seeds will germinate in one to two weeks time.
- After 4 to 6 weeks, you can transplant the Bachelor’s Button plants to your garden.
- The plants will need watering to grow good enough to bloom later in the spring.
- Once they get established, then you need to water only when required for them to blossom.
How to Care for Bachelor’s Button
The Bachelor’s Button plants do not need much care. The most common issue that you find with these plants is the yellowing of the leaves. This is because of improper sunlight and watering. Ensure that you do not water the plant in such a way that the soil is waterlogged. Do not plant the Bachelor’s Button in low-lying areas where water gets collected. These annuals can be removed after the flowering season. As they reseed themselves, you will see new plants growing year after year. They do not need nutrients to grow and if needed you can give them small amounts of plant food. Do not feed the Bachelor’s Button with nitrogen fertiliser as this will prevent the plant from blooming and growing overly tall causing wilted plants.
Growing – once planted after learning how to grow bachelors button plants you will be able to pick a bunch and use them to display them in your living room inside to enjoy either fresh or dried. You can also eat them.
