Cornflower 'Blue Ball' Seeds

Centaurea cyanus 'Blue Ball' is the definitive cornflower. If you close your eyes and imagine a cottage garden, this is likely the flower you see. It produces fully double, ruffled, pom-pom flowers in a shade of intense, electric azure that is almost impossible to replicate in paint.

It is a nostalgic, cheerful flower that brings a touch of the wild meadow into a cultivated border. Tall, swaying, and buzzing with life, it is the absolute backbone of a hardy annual cutting patch.

Why Your Garden Needs 'Blue Ball'

True blue is a rare colour in nature, and 'Blue Ball' delivers it in spades. It acts as a cooling influence on hot colours and looks crisp and clean next to whites. It is one of the easiest plants to grow from seed, offering huge rewards for very little effort.

It is also a top-tier cut flower. The stems are long and wiry, stripping easily of leaves, and the flowers hold their colour beautifully even when dried. If you leave the seed heads on, they attract goldfinches to the garden in winter.

Understanding the Plant: What is a Hardy Annual?

Cornflower is a Hardy Annual.

This means it completes its life cycle in one year. Because it is "Hardy," it is tough enough to withstand British winters. This gives you a huge advantage: you can sow it in spring for summer flowers, or—for the tallest, strongest plants—sow it in autumn (September). The autumn-sown seedlings will build a massive root system over winter and flower weeks earlier than spring-sown ones.

Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow

Cornflowers are famous for being beginner-friendly.

🌱 Germination:
The seeds look like little shuttlecocks or brushes. They prefer to be sown directly into the garden soil where they are to flower, as they have a taproot that dislikes disturbance. Sow them about 1cm deep in drills. They germinate quickly, usually within 10-14 days.

Where to Sow:
They need a sunny, open spot. They aren't fussy about soil quality and actually flower better in average soil rather than rich, manured ground (which makes them grow too many leaves and fewer flowers).

Care While Growing:
Support is key: 'Blue Ball' is a tall variety (up to 90cm). In a windy garden, they can flop over, so I recommend putting some twiggy sticks or netting over them when they are young for the stems to grow through. Deadhead regularly to keep the flowers coming.

Plant Specifications

Here is a quick reference guide to the key features, helping you decide if these electric blue blooms are the right fit for your garden.

My Recommended Garden Companions

Blue is a very versatile colour in the garden. You can either contrast it or complement it. Here are my top pairings from the shop:

• 🧡 Calendula 'Neon': For a high-energy display, plant 'Blue Ball' with 'Neon' Calendula. Blue and Orange are opposites on the colour wheel, meaning they make each other look brighter and more intense.
• ☁️ Ammi majus (Bishop's Flower): For a softer, more romantic look, pair the blue buttons with the white lace of Ammi. This creates a calm, sophisticated "blue and white" china pattern effect in the border.

📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar

Sow direct outdoors in spring or autumn. Autumn sowings flower earlier the following year.

(↔️ Swipe chart to see all months)