Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Centaurea cyanus

Bonjour from Campagne Maison


Centaurea cyanus, commonly referred to as:
 Bachelor's Button, Bluebottle, Cornflower, Garden Cornflower

The Centaurea cyanus is a member of the Asteraceae family with only disc like flowers. The outer discs are somewhat bell-shaped, with sharp pointed lobes, more frequently blue in color.



Family: Asteraceae – Aster family
Genus Common Name: Knapweed
Native Status: Introduced


This introduced species was brought over to North America as an ornamental by immigrants from Europe, and is commonly cultivated. It is now found wild in every state except Alaska, and is also found in most of Canada. 


In its native southern Europe, this flower grows among the grain field, giving it the "Cornflower" common name.


In Tennessee it is considered weedy and/or invasive by some authorities. In massive growth, I think it rivals the Texas Bluebonnets. (Has this AR native become a Tennessean?)

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today! We love having company.

Au revoir,




2 comments:

Lorrie said...

I love Bachelor's Buttons! They do grow here, but aren't weedy at all. They're annuals and have to be planted every year.

Hope your week is going well.

Sea Witch said...

One of my favorite flowers these blue beauties. My dad planted them everywhere in our wild gardens in New Jersey. Your post brought back a lovely memory. Hope you and your family are doing well. My honey and I are off to Mexico in May to worship the sun and the sea. So looking forward to getting away.