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Centaurea cyanus
  • Cornflower

an annual member of the Centaurea genus in the family Compositae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline,very alkaline
    Acid to Very alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • ?
    Unknown
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Centaurea cyanus has 0 edible uses listed
Centaurea cyanus has 0 material uses listed
Centaurea cyanus has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

The young shoots are edible[1].

Flowers - raw or cooked. The fresh florets can be used in salads[2]. They are used as a vegetable or a garnish[3].

An edible blue dye is obtained from the flowers, used for colouring sugar and confections[3].

Unknown part

Colouring

Flowers

Unknown use

Material uses

A blue ink and a dye is obtained from the petals mixed with alum-water[4][5][6][7]. The dye gives a lovely colour to linen, but it is transient[4].

The dried petals are used in pot-pourri in order to add colour[4][8].

Extracts of the plant are added to hair shampoos and rinses[2].

Unknown part

Dye
Hair care
Ink
Pot-pourri

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Cornflower has a long history of herbal use, though it is seldom employed nowadays. In France it is still used as a remedy for tired eyes, but opinions differ as to its efficacy[9][8]. Traditionally it is said to work best on blue eyes, whilst Plantago major (great plantain) was used for brown eyes[8].

The dried flowers are antipruritic, antitussive, astringent, weakly diuretic, emmenagogue, ophthalmic, very mildly purgative, and tonic[4][1][10][11][7][12]. An infusion can be used in the treatment of dropsy, constipation, or as a mouthwash for ulcers and bleeding gums[10][2]. This infusion is also taken as a bitter tonic and stimulant, improving the digestion and possibly supporting the liver as well as improving resistance to infections[9]. A water distilled from the petals was formerly in repute as a remedy for weak eyes[4] and a soothing lotion for conjunctivitis[1][12]. The seeds are used as a mild laxative for children[1][9].

A decoction of the leaves is antirheumatic[1][9].

Unknown part

Antipruritic
Antirheumatic
Antitussive
Astringent
Diuretic
Emmenagogue
Laxative
Ophthalmic
Purgative
Tonic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow March in the greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in May. The seed can also be sown in situ during April, whilst in areas where the winters are not too cold a sowing in situ during September will produce larger and earlier-flowering plants

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Centaurea cyanus. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[13][14]. Prefers a well-drained fertile soil and a sunny position[14]. Tolerates dry, low fertility and alkaline soils[14]. Established plants are drought tolerant[7].

A very ornamental plant[13], there are many named varieties[15]. The flowers are often used in dried-flower arrangements because they retain their colour well[1]. A good plant for bees, butterflies and moths[16][17][18]. The cornflower is considered to be a good companion, in small quantities, for cereal crops[19][16], though another report says that its greedy roots deprive the cultivated plants of nutrients and its tough stem dulls the reaper's sickle[4].

Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[20].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Centaurea cyanus. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Centaurea cyanus.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Centaurea cyanus
Genus
Centaurea
Family
Compositae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3]
Medicinal uses
[9][8][4][1][10][11][7][12][2]
Material uses & Functions
[4][5][6][7][8][2]
Botanic
[21][14]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
?
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Drought
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
?
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
annual
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
1 x 0.3 meters
Fertility
self fertile
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera, Self
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite

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"image:Centaureacyanus.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Centaureacyanus.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Centaureacyanus.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


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References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.7 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.5 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.13.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.64.7 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.1 Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press ISBN 0192176218 (1969-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.1 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
  7. ? 7.07.17.27.37.4 Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-304-34324-2 (1993-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.4 Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. ISBN 0-85613-067-2 (1979-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.4 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.110.2 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.112.2 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)
  13. ? 13.013.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  14. ? 14.014.114.214.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  15. ? Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
  16. ? 16.016.1 Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 (1978-00-00)
  17. ? Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan ISBN 0-330-26642-x (1982-00-00)
  18. ? International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. (1981-00-00)
  19. ? Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins (1979-00-00)
  20. ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)
  21. ? Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PFAFimport-17

Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-13" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

"image:Centaureacyanus.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Centaurea_cyanus&oldid=76072"
Facts about "Centaurea cyanus"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyCompositae +
Belongs to genusCentaurea +
Has common nameCornflower +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has edible partUnknown part + and Flowers +
Has edible useColouring + and Unknown use +
Has environmental toleranceDrought +
Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Bee +, Flies +, Lepidoptera + and Self +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has imageCentaureacyanus.jpg +
Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useDye +, Hair care +, Ink + and Pot-pourri +
Has mature height1 +
Has mature width0.3 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAntipruritic +, Antirheumatic +, Antitussive +, Astringent +, Diuretic +, Emmenagogue +, Laxative +, Ophthalmic +, Purgative + and Tonic +
Has primary imageCentaureacyanus.jpg +
Has search namecentaurea cyanus + and x +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral +, Alkaline + and Very alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameCentaurea cyanus +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +