Centaurea Cornflower : best honey plant
Many gardeners and landscape designers choose perennial flowers like cornflower to decorate their gardens. Its beauty comes from its vibrant color and delicate look. This article will explain all the main features of this plant and the basic rules for growing it.
Cornflower is a herb that belongs to the Asteraceae family. Its scientific name is Centaurea. It was once a wild plant, but in recent decades, breeders have domesticated it and created many improved varieties.
It is also known as one of the best plants for honey bees.
Cornflower grows in America, Eurasia, and North Africa. It is commonly found in fields and steppes. Farmers see it as one of the most common weeds in cereal crops.
This flower has a simple but pretty look. Its height can vary from 50 to 120 cm, depending on the variety. The stems are usually tall, thin, and straight. Sometimes, they are flat. The stems are smooth and do not have spines or thorns. Some varieties may have a soft fuzz on them.
The leaves grow on alternate sides. They can be whole or divided, with the more common being divided. The leaf color ranges from light green to dark green. The leaves are evenly colored, with no stripes or spots.
The flowers grow in basket-shaped clusters. They can be round or cylindrical depending on the variety. The petals are pointed and thin. Around the edges, the flowers often look funnel-shaped, while the inside is tubular.
The cluster of flowers can look like a shield or a panicle. Petal colors include blue, purple, light blue, pink, red, yellow, and white. The petals are edible.
Seeds are kept in small pods. They have a small tuft and are usually covered with tiny hairs. The seeds stay good for up to three years. The plant has a strong, long-lasting root system made of rhizomes. Some varieties have long, thin, and curved roots, while others have short, branched ones.
Sometimes, plants have a large rhizome with a thick central root. Some versions have a powerful root system and a long, thick main root.