Cornflower 'Black & Mauve Mix' Seeds

Centaurea cyanus 'Black & Mauve Mix' is a robust Hardy Annual (H7). As a selected blend of the British native wildflower, it is perfectly adapted to the UK climate, surviving temperatures as low as -20°C. It is a "cool-season" specialist, meaning it establishes its best root systems when the soil is cool in either spring or autumn.

The "Autumn Secret": While many gardeners sow Cornflowers in spring, the secret to the most floriferous plants is September sowing. Autumn-sown plants in this mix develop deep, resilient root systems over winter and burst into bloom weeks earlier than spring-sown counterparts, resulting in bushier, taller, and more architectural specimens.

A Bee's Favorite: Cornflowers are a superstar species for biodiversity. Both the 'Black Ball' and 'Mauve Boy' components are rich in high-quality nectar, serving as a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hoverflies from mid-summer until the very first autumn frosts.

Cornflowers are among the easiest plants to raise from seed, providing high reward for minimal effort.

How to Sow:
Direct sow outdoors in September for early summer blooms, or in March to May for a continuous mid-to-late summer display. Cornflowers possess a deep taproot and hate being moved; for this reason, direct sowing into their final position is always the most successful method. Scatter the seeds onto finely raked soil and cover very lightly (just 3mm deep). Germination typically occurs within 14-21 days.

Where to Plant:
They demand full sun and prefer well-drained soil. Paradoxically, Cornflowers perform better in poor, "hungry" soils. Over-feeding or planting in rich ground will lead to excessive leafy growth and weak stems. Sandy or chalky soils are ideal for producing the sturdy, upright plants required for cutting.

Ongoing Care:
As this mix reaches heights of 90cm, we recommend providing light twiggy support (hazel or birch) early in the season to prevent the plants from flopping after heavy rain. Deadheading spent flower heads weekly—or cutting them for the vase—is essential to stimulate the plant into producing fresh buds; if left to set seed, the plant will stop flowering early.

This dark and moody mix acts as its own ready-made palette, but it works spectacularly with Available partners from our range:

• ☁️ Ammi majus: The Classic Contrast. The lacy white umbels of Ammi majus (Bishop's Flower) provide a soft, luminous backdrop that allows the deep, velvety tones of the cornflowers to pop. This is a quintessential florist's pairing, creating a professional-looking "wild meadow" display in both the garden and the vase.
• 🕊️ Nigella 'Miss Jekyll White': The Texture Match. The pure snowy white blooms of this Nigella sit nestled in a haze of fine, feathery foliage. Together with the 'Black & Mauve Mix', they create a dreamy, sophisticated aesthetic that looks like dark jewels threaded through a low-hanging summer cloud.

Direct sow in autumn for the strongest plants, or in spring for successional waves of moody, double blooms through the summer.