Cornflower 'Mauve Boy' Seeds
If you love the "antique" look in your garden, 'Mauve Boy' is essential. It produces masses of fully double, ruffled blooms in a unique shade of deep, dusty mauve-lilac that looks incredible in soft, romantic arrangements.
This variety moves away from the traditional bright blue wildflower look and offers something more refined. Standing tall on sturdy stems, it blends beautifully with whites, silvers, and deep purples. It is a workhorse in the cutting patch, producing bucketfuls of long-lasting flowers from early summer right through to the first frosts.
Read our full UK growing guide for Cornflowers here: Cornflowers in Your Cottage Garden: Growing Guide for UK Climate
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Cornflower is a Hardy Annual.
It grows, flowers, and sets seed in one season. It is incredibly cold-tolerant.
The "Ball" Type: Unlike wild single cornflowers, 'Mauve Boy' is a "Ball" variety. This means it has been bred to have extra rows of petals, creating a dense, pom-pom shape that holds its form better in the vase.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Cornflowers hate being moved, so sow them where they are to flower.
Germination:
Sow directly outdoors in Autumn (Sept) for the strongest, earliest plants next year, or Spring (March-May). Scatter seeds onto raked soil and cover lightly (3mm deep). Germination takes 14-21 days.
Where to Sow:
They demand **full sun**. They thrive in well-drained soil and actually flower better in "poor" soil. Do not add manure; too much nitrogen makes them leafy and weak.
Care While Growing:
Support: This is a tall variety (up to 90cm). In windy gardens, use some netting or twine to keep the stems upright.
Deadhead: Snip off the dead flower heads regularly to force the plant to keep producing new buds.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Centaurea cyanus |
| Common Name | Cornflower 'Mauve Boy' |
| Hardiness | H7 (Very Hardy - to -20°C) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 75cm - 90cm (Tall) |
| Spread | ↔️ 30cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 30cm apart |
| Great for | ✂️ Cut Flowers 🎨 Vintage Themes 🐝 Pollinators 🥗 Edible Garnish |
| Seed Count | Approx. 200 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
The muted mauve tone needs crisp or dark partners to look its best:
- ☁️ Cosmos 'Purity': The Romantic Mix. The clean white of Cosmos makes the dusty lilac of 'Mauve Boy' look richer and deeper. A perfect wedding combination.
- ⚫ Scabious 'Black Knight': The Moody Palette. Pairing the mauve cornflower with the almost-black pincushion flower creates a stunning, dark, gothic-inspired border.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow outdoors in autumn or spring. Flowers mid-summer to autumn.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Outdoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||
| Flowers | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
⚠️ Edible Flowers
Cornflower petals are 100% edible. They have a mild, slightly clove-like flavour. Use the mauve petals to decorate cupcakes or float them in a gin and tonic for a vintage twist.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
This is a top-tier plant for biodiversity. Centaurea cyanus is listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list, producing high-quality nectar that is easily accessible to bees and butterflies.
- Regular price
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£2.30 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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£2.30
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