Cornflower 'Polka Dot Mixed' Seeds
Why choose just one colour when you can have them all? 'Polka Dot Mixed' is a cheerful kaleidoscope of cornflower colours—blues, pinks, whites, deep maroons, and soft lilacs all tumbling together in one delightfully informal display. This mix captures that wild, free-spirited cottage garden vibe in bucket loads, looking like a patch of wildflowers has simply appeared in your border.
This variety is naturally more compact and bushier than the taller 'Ball' types, making it perfect for containers, patio pots, path edges, and the front of borders. The multi-branching stems produce an abundance of flowers that are ideal for small, charming posies. Like all cornflowers, it's a fantastic cut-and-come-again variety—the more you cut, the more it blooms. Incredibly easy to grow, beloved by bees and butterflies, and endlessly cheerful—this is the perfect choice for adding instant cottage garden charm to smaller spaces.
🌿 Understanding the Plant
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 'Polka Dot' series is bred to be more compact than traditional cornflower varieties, making it ideal for containers and smaller gardens. Despite the shorter stature, it retains all the easy-going nature and wildlife value of its taller cousins.
The "Autumn Secret": While most gardeners sow cornflowers in spring, the secret to the strongest, most floriferous plants is to sow in September. These autumn-sown plants establish a robust root system over winter and flower weeks earlier than spring-sown ones. They're incredibly hardy and will sail through British winters without protection.
A Generous Guest: Cornflowers are fantastic self-seeders. If you leave a few seed heads on the plants at the end of the season, you'll find baby cornflowers popping up the following year—often in delightful, unexpected places and in a wonderful mix of colours.
🌱 Growing Guide
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 20cm apart.
Where to Plant:
Plant in a spot with full sun and well-drained soil. Cornflowers prefer lean, poor soil—rich, manured ground produces lots of leafy growth but fewer flowers. This compact variety is perfect for containers, patio pots, window boxes, and the front of borders.
Ongoing Care:
Support: 'Polka Dot Mixed' is naturally more compact (40-50cm) than the taller varieties, so usually needs little support. In very exposed positions, a few twiggy sticks will help.
Deadheading: Keep cutting! Regular harvesting for posies or snipping off faded heads encourages continuous blooming right through to autumn.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Botanical Name | Centaurea cyanus |
| Common Name | Cornflower 'Polka Dot Mixed' |
| Plant Type | Hardy Annual |
| Hardiness | H7 (Very Hardy - survives to -20°C) |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | 40-50cm |
| Spread | 20-30cm |
| Spacing | Plant 20cm apart |
| Flowering Period | June to September |
| Perfect For | 🪴 Containers & Pots 🌸 Small Posies 🐝 Bee & Butterfly Gardens 🏡 Path Edges 🌈 Cottage Borders |
| Seeds per Packet | Approximately 200 seeds |
🤝 Beautiful Garden Combinations
This colourful mix already contains a rainbow of shades, so it pairs beautifully with simple, complementary plants:
🌿 Ammi majus (Bishop's Flower): The lacy white umbels of Ammi create a beautiful, airy backdrop that ties all the different cornflower colours together. The white acts as a neutral canvas, allowing the blues, pinks, and mauves to really pop. Both are easy hardy annuals that thrive in similar conditions.
🐰 Bunny Tails (Lagurus ovatus): The soft, fluffy white seed heads of this ornamental grass add wonderful texture and movement to the planting. The neutral tones complement the colourful cornflowers without competing, creating a relaxed, meadow-like feel that's perfect for containers or cottage borders.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow outdoors in autumn or spring. Flowers from June to September.
💡 Edible Garnish Tip
Cornflower petals are completely edible with a mild, slightly sweet flavour. With this mix, you'll have a rainbow of petal colours to choose from—scatter them over cakes for a confetti effect, float them in summer drinks, or freeze them into ice cubes for a stunning multicoloured display at parties.
🏆 Wildlife Champion
This is a superstar plant for biodiversity. Centaurea cyanus is listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list, producing high-quality, easily accessible nectar that attracts bees, butterflies, and hoverflies throughout the summer. The iconic, nectar-rich flowers are an absolute magnet for beneficial insects, making them a vital addition to any eco-friendly garden.
📖 Want more detailed growing advice?
Read our full UK growing guide for Cornflowers here: Cornflowers in Your Cottage Garden: Growing Guide for UK Climate
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£2.30 - Regular price
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£2.30
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