Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Centaurea montana (Perennial cornflower)
1 hour care
per year
per year
0.6m
Max height
Max height
0.5m
Max spread
Max spread
1-2 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Centaurea montana
Other names
Perennial cornflower, Mountain bluets, Knapweed, Mountain knapweed, Great blue-bottle, Mountain centaury
Genus
Centaurea Centaurea
Species
C. montana - C. montana is a low-growing perennial cornflower with electric blue flowers with a red centre in summer.
Centaurea montana is: Deciduous
Habit
Upright
Flower
Dark-blue in Spring; Dark-blue in Summer
Foliage
Green in Summer
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest free
Powdery mildew Powdery mildew
General care
Pruning
Deadhead to prolong the flowering season.
Propagation
Sow seed in a cold frame in spring. Divide in autumn or spring.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Centaurea montana (Perennial cornflower) will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.5m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Coastal, Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging, Prairie planting, Wildflower, Wildlife
Cultivation
Grow in moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Typically requires staking. Autumn sowing will produce larger, earlier-flowering plants.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Centaurea montana
Other names
Perennial cornflower, Mountain bluets, Knapweed, Mountain knapweed, Great blue-bottle, Mountain centaury
Genus
Centaurea Centaurea
Species
C. montana - C. montana is a low-growing perennial cornflower with electric blue flowers with a red centre in summer.
Native to
Europe
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Upright
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Dark-blue in Spring; Dark-blue in Summer
Foliage
Green in Summer
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest free
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
Deadhead to prolong the flowering season.
Propagation
Sow seed in a cold frame in spring. Divide in autumn or spring.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Centaurea montana (Perennial cornflower) will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.5m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Coastal, Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging, Prairie planting, Wildflower, Wildlife
Cultivation
Grow in moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Typically requires staking. Autumn sowing will produce larger, earlier-flowering plants.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4, Zone 3
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
(10/05/2011)
(12/06/2012)
(22/05/2010)
(06/06/2011)
Centaurea montana, unknown type. SE England, June 2013. (26/06/2013)
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
For this year’s Morgan Stanley Garden, designer Chris Beardshaw has been inspired by the UK’s love of gardens and explores how gardeners can continue the tradition of creating beautiful… read more
By Devon garden designer Tom Simpson. The garden, designed by Tom, aged 28 from Kingswear near Dartmouth, showcases many of the attributes of a sustainable rain garden, treating water as a precious… read more
By garden designer Sarah Eberle.The 2017 Hillier Chelsea Flower Show garden has been inspired by one simple word: Spring. read more
Chelsea Barracks Garden Donated to Royal British Legion Industries. The garden will be permanently relocated at the Royal British Legion Village in Kent. read more
Following the success of the gold medal winning L'Occitane Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show last year, L'Occitane is delighted to return to Chelsea once again in 2016 with a new show garden to… read more
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
This plant is featured at Chelsea Flower Show 2009
There are 20 active discussions about Centaurea montana (Perennial cornflower)
View all discussions