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GROWING

Withthistle-likeflowersthecolourof a deep-blueskyandtrailingassociations

of wheatfieldsandbutterflies,cornflowersarea distillationof a hazy

summer’sday.Scattera fewseedsona sunnybedor in a containerandyou

bringa littleburstof thecountrysideto yourgarden.Youwillalsohelpto

conservethiswildflower,almostwipedoutbymodernfarmingpractices,

andoncesoabundantit wasconsidereda weed.

In 1922,cornflowerswere

foundin Tutankhamun’s

tombin Egypt.Even3,000

yearsafterentombment,

theystillretainedmuchof

theiroriginalcolour.

Try these

OCentaurea cyanus: the common variety delivered as young

plants. £8.99 for ten; marshalls-seeds.co.uk.

OCentaurea cyanus ‘Black Ball’: dark crimson flowers. Packet of seeds, £1.95; higgledygarden.com.

OCentaurea cyanus ‘Trailing Blue Carpet’: a trailing variety that suits hanging baskets. Packet of seeds,

£1.99; thompson-morgan.com.

CORNFLOWER

How to g row

There is still time to sow seed to enjoy

flowers in August and September.

Scatter on to bare earth in a sunny

spot, press lightly on the soil and water

with a watering can with a rose. The

seeds will, gratifyingly, germinate

quickly (cornflowers are rewarding

plants for children to grow). They also

work well in pots planted with wafty

grasses to create your own miniature

cornfield. Alternatively, scatter seeds in

September for drifts next summer.

Scatter

seeds

Gentle Sunshine

water

Need to know

Cornflowers grow best in poor, well drained soil (think of their natural

habitat: barley and wheat fields and the edge of woodland) and flower

until the end of summer. Keep picking the flowers to generate new ones.