Cornflower 'Pink Ball' Seeds

Centaurea cyanus is a Hardy Annual (H7), meaning it completes its entire life cycle in one growing season and can withstand temperatures down to -20°C.

The 'Ball' varieties produce double, ruffled flowers that are far fuller and more substantial than wild cornflowers. The name Centaurea comes from the centaur Chiron in Greek mythology, who was said to have used the plant to heal his wounds—a nod to cornflower's long history in herbal medicine.

The "Autumn Secret": While most gardeners sow cornflowers in spring, the secret to giant plants with hundreds of flowers is to sow in September. These autumn-sown plants establish a huge root system over winter and flower weeks earlier than spring-sown ones, creating bushier, more floriferous plants. They're incredibly hardy and will sail through British winters without protection.

Historical Interest: Cornflowers were once a common sight in British cornfields, growing as a "weed" amongst wheat and barley. While the classic blue is most famous, breeders have developed a wonderful range of colours including this lovely soft pink. Despite the colour variation, they retain all the easy-going nature and wildlife value of the original.

Cornflowers are ridiculously easy to grow and perfect for beginners!

How to Sow:
Sow directly outdoors in Autumn (September-October) for the earliest, most robust plants, or Spring (March-May) for summer blooms. Cornflowers are happiest when direct-sown where they are to grow, but can also be started in modules. Sow seeds thinly (approx. 1cm deep) into prepared soil and keep moist. Thin seedlings to 20-30cm apart.

Where to Plant:
Plant in a spot with full sun and well-drained soil. Cornflowers actually prefer lean, poor soil—rich, manured ground produces lots of leafy growth but fewer flowers and weak stems. Sandy or chalky soil? Perfect!

Ongoing Care:
Support: 'Pink Ball' grows tall (75-90cm). In windy, exposed gardens, use twiggy sticks or netting to prevent flopping.
Deadheading: Keep cutting! Regular harvesting for the vase or snipping off faded heads encourages continuous blooming right through to autumn. Leave some seed heads at the end of the season if you want the plants to self-seed for next year.

Soft pink is wonderfully versatile—it creates romantic schemes with whites and mauves, or adds a gentle counterpoint to bolder colours:

💙 Cornflower 'Blue Ball': The classic combination! Soft pink and electric blue together create a vibrant, jewel-toned display that looks fresh and cheerful all summer long. Plant them in drifts together for a stunning cottage garden effect that's reminiscent of traditional wildflower meadows.

🕊️ Nigella 'Miss Jekyll White' (Love-in-a-Mist): The pure white blooms of Nigella nestled in their fine, ferny foliage create a romantic, dreamy backdrop that allows the soft pink cornflowers to really shine. Both plants produce fantastic seed pods for dried arrangements too—doubling your enjoyment from each plant.

Sow outdoors in autumn or spring. Flowers from June to September.