- Cornflower Latin Name
- Cornflower Common Names
- Cornflower Description
- Cornflower Varieties
- Cornflower History
- Cornflower Health Benefits
- Cornflower Distribution
- Cornflower Habitat
- Cornflower Cultivation
- Cornflower Latin Name
- Cornflower Common Names
- Cornflower Description
- Cornflower Varieties
- Cornflower History
- Cornflower Health Benefits
- Cornflower Distribution
- Cornflower Habitat
- Cornflower Cultivation
- Cornflower Propagation
- Cornflower Edible Uses
- Cornflower Recipes
- Cornflower Medicinal Uses
- Cornflower Other Uses
- Cornflower Side Effects
- Cornflower Oil
- Cornflower Symbolism
- Cornflower Diseases and Pests
- Cornflower Threat
- Cornflower Conservation Status
- Cornflower Pictures
Cornflower is an annual flowering plant, bearing rich blue flower which has a charm of its own. It belongs to the daisy family of Asteraceae. This flower is nicknamed “cornflower” and is native to Europe. Its rich blue flowers are used for flower arrangements and garden decoration. Cornflower is grown wild in the grain fields of Southern Europe. It often grew as a weed in the fields of rye, wheat, oats and barley and hence its name. Cornflower is endangered thesedays due to excessive use of herbicides.
Cornflower Latin Name
The scientific name for Cornflower is Centaurea cyanus.
Cornflower Common Names
The common name for Cornflower are Bluebottle, Blue Poppy, Barbeau, Witch’s Bell, Brushes, Bachelor’s Button, Cyani Flower, Boutonniere flower and Hurtsickle.
Cornflower is an annual plant which grows up to 1 to 3 feet tall depending upon its variety. The upper portion of the plant is multi-stemmed and bears flowers. Their stems are branched and are grey green in color. Their leaves are 1 to 4cms long with tapering to a point at each end. The flowers have a deep intense blue color with a large ring of florets spreading around a round disk of florets. The flowers are hermaphrodite. The plant flowers in June to August, while the seed ripens on August to October.
Here are some of the popular varieties of Cornflower.
- Polka Dots: Blues and Reds
- The Bride: has white blooms with fragrance
- Blue Daimen: has dark blue blossoms with large doubles
- Dairy Maid: has yellow blooms and is an oriental species
- Frosty: it comes in white, pink, blue and red hue
- Jubilee Gem: Dark blue with double flowers
- Tall Double Mixed: very tall, comes in pink, mauve, red and blue flowers
Cornflower has its history dating back to the ancient Greeks. The Greek mythology has referred to the cornflower as the flower with healing properties. Folk tales of the romantic legends who wore this flower has been known and hence the name “Bachelor’s Button”. In Old England, young girls who were single wore this flower as a sign of availability.
Cornflower Health Benefits
It contains substances like tannin and potassium salts. Cornflower has properties like antipuretic, astringent, mild purgative, emmenagogue, weakly diuretic, antitussive and tonic.
Cornflower is native to Europe. It has declined in the north Western Europe. It is grown in the Mediterranean countries. This flower once occurred widely throughout United Kingdom but it has declined considerably these days and is confined to only few sites like Lincolnshire, Isle of Wight and Suffolk. Self sustaining population is still present in South and eastern part of England and in Wales.
The plant requires a well drained soil. It prefers sandy loam soil and can grow in a soil which is nutritional