Cornflower

Scientific name: Centaurea cyanus

Once considered a weed of cornfields, the cornflower was nearly wiped out by intensive agricultural practices. Today, it can be found in deliberately seeded areas, and on roadside verges and waste ground.

Species information

Statistics

Height: up to 80cm

Conservation status

Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.

When to see

June to August

About

Once considered a weed of arable fields, the development of intensive agricultural practices nearly wiped out the cornflower in the wild. This delicate, blue flower is now most likely to occur as a garden escapee, as part of intentional wildflower seeding, or as the result of the disturbance of soil containing old seed banks. Its strongholds remain roadside verges, scrub, waste ground and farmland. It flowers from June to August, often alongside other arable flowers (also called 'cornfield flowers') such as corn chamomile and corncockle.

How to identify

Like all members of the daisy family, the bright blue flowers of the cornflower are actually composite heads of small flowers. In the cornflower, the outer florets are star-like, and smaller, more purplish flowers are found in the middle. Stems and leaves are long and pointy, with hairy, blackish buds at the tips.

Distribution

Widespread, but scarce.

Habitats

Did you know?

One of the best displays of arable flowers in the UK can be seen at a Wildlife Trust nature reserve, College Lake, in Buckinghamshire. Every summer, a riot of colour can be enjoyed as flowers, such as cornflower and common poppy, burst into bloom. Once an old quarry, a cache of topsoil was discovered in the 1980s when the area became a nature reserve, and spread over special plots. Dormant seeds in the soil soon grew to produce a stunning display, which is now lovingly cared for by local conservationists.