CENTAUREA . Cornflower and Sweet - sultan
( Name descend from a sure Centaurus that was famous for his power as a healer )
There is a vast array of Centaureas , both annual and recurrent . All of them have more or less thistle - comparable prime .
SPECIES . Cornflower ( Bachelor - button ) ( Frenchpink ) ( Bluebottle ) ( Keiserbloom ) ( Ragged - Panama ) ( Bluet).Cenfaurea cyanus . A popular gamey , imperial , rose or blanched sort . The doubled varieties are fuller , more symmetrical and large so that these are by far the respectable to cultivate . A gnome form is catalogue . The goldfinches are fond of the seeds and make an interesting combining in colors .
Basketflower . Centaurea americana . This is the heavy blossom variety , often 4 inches in diam . The flowers are rosy lavender , made up of very slender floret . The involucre below the flowers have bracts , which are fringed and dry . The plants spring up 3 feet improbable . The flowers ordinarily tightlipped at dark .
Sweet - sultanCentaurea moschata ( odorala ) ( suaveolens)also C.imperialis . Most of the Sweet sultans have a frail fragrance . They are white , pinkish , yellowed , lilac , purple and frequently have white or lily-livered centers . The florets are apt to be profuseness - like , that is , funnel - shaped , often finely fringe . The flowers are 3 inches to 4 inch across and are borne upon strong stems . The bract are often dry at the margin but they are not fringe as inCentaurea americana . They are enounce to favor a limestone soil .
Dusty millers . Two Centaureas are perennials but none too sturdy . They are stir from seed each yr by some florists . C.cineraria ( candidissima)has broad leaf lobe and flower heads large , not hide by the leafage , the flowers are yellow or purple . C.gymnocarpa ( argentea ) ( plumosa),known as the Velvet Centurea , has very minute leaf lobe and tiny flowers almost hidden by the leaves . The flowers are purple .
Where to Plant . The various sorts are dear mown flowers specially the Sweet sultans and Cornflowers , both of which often last 10 days in water The Basketflower closes at dark .
Cornflowers are admirably flux with the Goldenwave Calliopsis . As garden subjects all sorts are safe yearly . Travelers to Europe know why the flower are so constitute because wherever they go they bump the grain field of honor filled with Cornflowers and Corn Poppies They are ideal buttonhole bloom and for this rationality have been called Bachelor - button .
Gray foliage is always an asset to the garden , contrast with the brave flowers it furnishes them with a splendid background . For bedding with Geraniums and other tender nursery plants , the Dustymillers have been a standby of flower store for this use and for window boxes .
GENERAL . The Cornflowers and Basketflowers are of the easiest refinement . The Cornflowers are well sown in the Fall , in which guinea pig they bloom in Spring . Young plants generally Winter safely when seed is sown early in the Fall . They may be sown in Spring as soon as the soil can be worked . Allow 6 inch to 8 inches between plants and do not let them , crowd . They flower in 8 weeks from source and often self - sow , but such seedlings are often individual and subscript in color and size . Succession in bloom is obtained by sowing at various fourth dimension .
Basketflowers are best sown in April , and not in the Fall . They postulate 1 foot between the plants , inasmuch as they are larger in growth than the Cornflowers .
Sweet grand Turk are best in cool climates . They should be sow where they are to grow , for they are not the easiest of seedlings to graft . They should bear 8 inch to 12 inches apart . Young seedlings moist - off easy when crowded or given too much water . Some growers believe that a limey , loose soil is necessary for succeeder .
Dusty - moth miller come may be sown in January if a greenhouse is available . farm them coolheaded and expend a flaxen soil . Cuttings may be made , using a good , shrewd tongue , as they are difficult to cut without injure .
Information on 50 + annual flowers
