Centaurea dealbata Stenbeergii

Centaurea dealbata 'Steenbergii', also known as Persian Cornflower, is a taller version of the cornflower, with bright magenta pink petals highlighted with white. It is a hardy and highly adaptable perennial that has retained the charm of wild plants. Growing quickly and flowering from the first year, it thrives in sunny locations, making it a vibrant and generous plant. It is irreplaceable in natural flower beds and slightly wild areas of the garden.

The 'Steenbergii' Centaurea belongs to the Asteraceae family and is native to the Caucasus and northern Iran. This perennial has a semi-sucker forming root system and an upright tufted habit, reaching a height of 60cm (24in) and a width of 50cm (20in). It has a relatively fast growth rate. The flowering period, which attracts pollinating insects, occurs in June and July, with fluffy 5cm (2in) diameter heads in a vivid pink with a white centre. The flowers emerge from beautifully sculpted, scale-like buds. The deciduous foliage is composed of narrow, deeply incised, ovate leaves that are grey-green on the upper surface and more grey and pubescent on the undersides. It is a long-lived perennial.

It is well-suited for perennial borders, adding vibrant splashes of colour that complement nepetas, globe thistles, and clarkias. It also thrives in flower meadows, with a more striking display in poorer soils. In this setting, it can be mixed with other centaureas, grasses, sainfoins, ornamental garlic, borage, agrimony, corn marigolds, California poppies, cosmos, and damask nigellas. It also performs well in rockeries. Additionally, it makes an excellent cut flower, suitable for both dried and fresh bouquets.

The name Centaurea comes from the centaur Chiron, who was healed from a gaping wound caused by an arrow dipped in Hydra's blood. The wound was healed with the flowers of this plant, which now bears his name as the genus name. The specific epithet 'dealbata' is derived from the Latin verb 'dealbare', meaning "to become white", referring to the silver underside of its leaves.