Centaurea montana (Mountain Cornflower)

Prized for its flamboyant, rich blue flowers, Centaurea montana (Mountain Cornflower) is an erect, stoloniferous, clump-forming perennial with fringed, blue flowers, 2 in. wide (5 cm), adorned with reddish blue, thistle-like centers from late spring to early summer. Attracting bees, butterflies and other admirers, the thistle-like blossoms may bloom again in late summer-early fall. The flowers appear atop unbranched stems above the foliage of soft, gray-green, lance-shaped leaves. Native to Europe, this rhizomatous perennial will self-seed prolifically if not deadheaded and may spread fairly quickly to form colonies in satisfactory growing conditions.

• Grows up to 12-24 in. tall (30-60 cm) and 12-18 in. wide (30-45 cm).
• Performs best in full sun or light shade in average, dry to moist, well-drained soils. Poor soils, heat and drought tolerant.
• Good choice for beds and borders, cottage gardens, prairies and meadows, coastal gardens and containers. Great as cut flowers too!
• No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for powdery mildew.
• Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering, and cut back in fall.
• Propagate by division in spring or autumn.
• Centaurea montana is native to Europe, where it grows in meadows and open woodland in the upper montane and sub-alpine zones. This popular garden perennial has become an invasive species in British Columbia, Canada.
• Find where this species is invasive in the United States.