Seasonal Wild Flowers

Perennial Cornflower

Centaurea montana

Asteraceae

April to July

It is found throughout the country, but is less common

in the East.

See the BSBI distribution map for Perennial Cornflower

It is widely planted throughout the country in gardens

and parks.

It is a neophyte, which was introduced to the UK in

the 1590s.

The naturalised escape has been known since the

1880s and grows on brownfield sites, waste ground,

and alongside roads, railways, rivers and canals.

Perennial Cornflower is a persistent, clump-forming,

perennial herb, growing up to 60cm or more.

It spreads by rhizomes.

The flowers, up to 8cm across, have striking blue, forked

outer rays, which are more thread-like than in Cornflower.

The leaves are lanceolate, broad and with a greyish tinge.

Cornflower flowers later and has smaller flowers with

3-dimensional rays, and small, thin leaves.

Perennial Cornflower patch

Central florets closed

Central florets open

Leaves