Perennial Cornflower Centaurea montana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sen-TAR-ee-ah mon-TAY-nah
- Description
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Mountain Bluet is an erect, clump-forming perennial flower which is native to Europe. Genus came from the popular name of various plants in the late 14th century, from Medieval Latin centaurea, from Latin centaureum, from Greek kentaureion, from kentauros "centaur", so called because the plant's medicinal properties were discovered by Chiron the centaur. Specific epithet means pertaining to mountains or coming from mountains. It is known for it's solitary, fringed, rich blue cornflowers with reddish blue centers and black-edged involucre bracts.
Easily grown in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun, Mountain Bluet are drought tolerant and tolerant of poor soils. It propagates two ways: by stolons, which rapidly form colonies when optimum growing conditions exist, or by seed. If deadheaded after bloom, you may get some additional blooms in the fall as well as the deadheading controlling the seeds. Plants need to be divided every 2-3 years.
Place in a meadow, naturalized area and along walkways.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Centaurea
- Species:
- montana
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Borders, cottage gardens and naturalized areas
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- Play Value:
- Colorful
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Drought tolerant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Finely hairy, straw-colored at maturity with a tuft of short, stiff, light brown bristles at the tip.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Dome
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Fringed, rich blue cornflowers with reddish blue centers and black-edged involucre bracts
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Gray-green, lance-shaped lower leaves to 7" long
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are erect, single or multiple from the base, hairy and usually unbranched, sometimes few-branched, 1 - 2 feet tall
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
