Black Ball Purple Bachelor Button Cornflower.
Cornflower ‘Black Ball’ showcases strikingly dark purple flowers that beautifully contrast with tall silver stems, making them ideal for cutting. Also known as bachelor buttons, cornflowers adapt well to various soil types and flourish in full sun or partial shade. These adaptable plants are heat and drought resistant, and deer tend to leave them alone. ‘Black Ball’ fits perfectly in beds, borders, and meadow gardens, drawing in a variety of pollinators and beneficial insects. The flower petals are edible and can be added to salads, cottage cheese, and desserts.
Name: Tall Pink Bachelor Button Cornflower
Scientific Name: Centaurea Cyanus
Color: Purple
Plant Seeds: Outdoors After Frost or Indoors Weeks Before Last Frost
Plant Height: 28" - 36″
Plant Spacing: 15" - 18"
Cycle: Annual but reseeds itself as a perennial
Bloom Season - Spring/Summer
Light Requirements: Full Sun
Soil & Water Preferences: Average
Other: Attracts bees, birds, & butterflies,
Sowing: Direct sow in late fall or early spring, planting the seeds thinly and 1/2" deep. In the spring, keep the soil moist after sowing; germination should occur within 7-10 days. To start indoors, plant three or four seeds 1/2" below the surface in individual peat pots. Keep the soil lightly moist and at a temperature of 65-70 degrees F until germination; thin to the strongest seedlings. Transplant the seedlings before they reach a height of 5".
Growing: Water seedlings occasionally until they become established. Mature plants can handle drought but prefer sufficient moisture and may require occasional watering. Trim off developing tips to encourage the plant to grow more branches and fuller growth, as well as more flowers. If the stems start to droop, provide some support. Deadhead spent blossoms for the most flowers, but remember to leave the latest blossoms to produce seeds; although it’s an annual, it will reseed easily to create volunteer plants. This plant attracts butterflies and bees, while also providing nutritious seeds for.
