Cornflower 'Red Boy' 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. Because it is "Hardy," it is tough enough to withstand British winters, giving you a huge advantage for autumn sowing.

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 the tallest, strongest plants is to sow in September. These autumn-sown seedlings will build a massive root system over winter and flower weeks earlier than spring-sown ones, creating bushier, more floriferous plants.

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 wonderful colour variations like this rich ruby-red. Despite the colour change, they retain all the easy-going nature and wildlife value of the original.

Cornflowers are famously unfussy, making them one of the best seeds for beginners!

How to Sow:
The seeds look like little shuttlecocks and 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. Sow in Autumn (September) for the strongest plants, or Spring (March-May) for summer blooms.

Where to Plant:
Plant in a sunny, open spot with full sun. 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).

Ongoing Care:
Support: 'Red Boy' is a tall variety (up to 90cm). In a windy garden, they can flop over, so put some twiggy sticks or netting over them when they are young for the stems to grow through.
Deadheading: Deadhead regularly to keep the flowers coming, or better yet, keep cutting them for the vase—the more you cut, the more it blooms.

'Red Boy' is a distinctive colour that looks wonderful when mixed with traditional cottage favourites:

💙 Cornflower 'Blue Ball': Sometimes you can't beat the classics! Planting 'Red Boy' alongside 'Blue Ball' creates a vibrant, jewel-toned mix of ruby and sapphire that looks incredible in the sunshine. It's a timeless combination that works beautifully in both the border and the vase.

🌿 Ammi majus (Bishop's Flower): The horizontal white lace of Ammi breaks up the blocks of colour beautifully. If you plant Red Cornflowers, Blue Cornflowers, and white Ammi together, you have a perfect "Red, White, and Blue" patriotic patch—stunning for summer celebrations!

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