Cornflower

(Centaurea cyanus)

Sow these annuals in spring or autumn for deep blue colour in your garden. Cornflowers are easy to grow and thrive in compost-rich soil.

These plants make an excellent cut flower and also come in white, pink and purple – the seeds you buy from a nursery are usually a mixture of these colours. Thin out seedlings that germinate too close together; they should be spaced about 20–30cm apart.

Trim off spent flowers regularly to encourage the plant to bloom for longer. At the end of the flowering season, cut off dry flower heads and store the seeds in a paper bag. Or leave the blooms to set seed; you’ll be rewarded with an abundance of new seedlings next season. By mid-summer, the plants have usually finished flowering and can be lifted.

Cornflower blooms are edible and make a lovely garnish for any type of dish. For a salad, use these deep blue flowers with orange and yellow nasturtiums – they contrast beautifully. Or simply break off some of the petals carefully and use them to decorate cupcakes.