Cornflower Polka Dot Mix (Bachelor's Button)
Centaurea cyanus
Cornflowers are a cottage garden favourite, and old classic, which are really easy to grow.
These seeds can be sown directly into the soil in your chosen site.
Just scatter them finely onto finely raked soil from mid-spring onwards and cover in lightly.
They prefer a sunny site which doesn't get too dry and will reward you with a lovely display of colour for weeks in the summer.
You may if you prefer sow under cover in small pots and plant out as soon as they have plenty of root.
Dead heading will prolong the flowering season and it is possible that plants may need a little support
with twiggy sticks depending on their situation.
As well as colour in the garden, these flowers are rich in nectar and are sure to attract bees, butterflies and lacewings to their flowers.
If you leave the seed heads on the plants at the end of summer then wild bird visitors will love this extra source of food.
Cornflowers are great as cut flowers and they can be incorporated into table decorations for parties as they last really well out of water.
In the kitchen these edible flower petals give a flourish of colour as a garnish with the bonus of their sweet and slightly spicy scent.