Bachelor Button (Centaurea cyanus) is a charming old
fashioned flower and is easily grown from seed. It's known
as bachelor button because it was used as a boutonniere
due to it's ability to last when out of water and the perfect
size of it's bloom. It also makes a lovely everlasting that
can be dried or pressed for crafting and arrangements.
Though it's primary color is blue, you will also find pinks,
purples, whites and even a "black" which is actually a very
deep purple. Bachelor buttons attract butterflies such as
Black Swallowtails and Fritillaries.
Centaurea blooms spring to midsummer, and usually reaches
to about 2 foot, although they do have dwarf varieties and tall
mixes that can reach 4 foot. They tolerate dry, poor soil, need
about a 1/2 day of sun and hate wet feet-so place them where
it's warm and dry. You can sow the seed in late autumn or in
the spring. Start them indoors for earlier blooms, about 4 weeks
before you'll be setting them out. Plant the seeds 1/2" deep and
keep at 65 degrees. It will take 7-14 days for the seeds to germinate.
The soil should be fairly moist while waiting for germination. Direct
seed outside as soon as you can work the soil. The plants will
reseed if you allow them too. To keep the blooms going deadhead
as the blooms fade, and just allow seeds to form near autumn. You
can also make successive planting two weeks apart.
I found the easiest way to stake plants like bachelor buttons
to use twigs. If you poke the twigs in the ground among the
flowers, they hold them up nicely and blend in well.
Centaurea is also known as cornflower because it grows
wild in the fields of England, many times among the corn.
It's is an edible bloom with a mild sweet spicy taste, and
can be used to garnish salads and desserts. Do make sure
that any you use for eating have not been exposed to any
type of chemicals. Bachelor buttons are also wonderful for
gardening with children because of the quick germination
and the nontoxic properties. Have kids start them indoors
in peat pots, which are easy to transfer into the garden, or
try growing the dwarf varieties in windowboxes or pots.
About the author:
Brenda Hyde is an avid gardener, freelance writer and
editor living in the Midwest with her husband and three
children.
Flower Seed Resources:
-Thompson&Morgan Seeds
--Nature Hills Nursery
-Park Seed
-Monticello Garden Shop
