Centaurea cyanus Lady Mauve

Centaurea cyanus 'Lady Mauve' is a variety of Cornflower or Bachelor's Buttons with flowers that display a colour ranging from lavender to violet. It is a selection from a charming annual plant, less commonly seen in fields nowadays. Its small, vibrant flowers adorn upright and branched stems for months on end as long as faded flowers are removed. Highly decorative in large clumps in flowerbeds, they are perfect for wildflower bouquets. These cornflowers thrive in full sun, fertile and well-drained soil, which is not too dry.

'Lady Mauve' cornflowers belong to the Asteraceae family. It is a cultivar derived from Centaurea cyanus, an herbaceous annual plant native to Europe and Northern Asia, long considered an adventive weed in cereal crops. It is one of the most beautiful wildflowers in our regions. Within a few weeks, the plant forms an upright clump with weak stems, reaching a height of 80 cm (32in) and a width of 25 cm (10in), bearing very narrow and long leaves with a greyish-green hue. It flowers from June to August, with 3 cm (1in) wide flowers. The ligules (or petals of the crown) have toothed edges and are a very bright mauve colour. The centre of the inflorescence is composed of violet florets. These flowers are highly attractive to bees and provides nectar.

Centaureas enchant flowerbeds and borders, creating remarkable spots of colour. The 'Lady Mauve' variety, a delightful descendant of the most famous among them, brings the charm of the countryside to our gardens. Sow it in slightly wild flowerbeds, it will look stunning alongside ornamental grasses like Stipa tenuifolia or Muhlenbergia capillaris, poppies, with Love-in-a-Mist, California poppies, and large daisies. The edible flowers can be used to decorate summer salads. They also make excellent cut flowers.