Didiscus caeruleus Lace White

Centaurea cyanus 'Classic Romantic', also called cornflower or bachelor's button, is a mixture of pink, white, and sometimes bicoloured, single or semi-double flowers. They paint a somewhat naive but unforgettable picture, like the adorable annual plant once so widespread in our countryside, wandering even as far as into our corn fields. Very decorative in large drifts, these cornflowers are perfect in wildflower bouquets and bloom for months if care is taken to remove the flowers as they wilt. They like full sun and fertile, well-drained soil.

The 'Classic Romantic' mix of cornflowers belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is a collection of cultivars derived from Centaurea cyanus, an annual herbaceous plant native to Europe and North Asia. This plant has traditionally been considered an invasive weed in cereal crops but is also one of the most beautiful wildflowers. This plant grows in an upright clump with tender stems and can reach a height of 65cm and a width of 30cm. It blooms from June to August, displaying semi-double or single flower heads 3cm across. These flowers come in various colours, including pure white, carmine red, Indian pink, and hot pink. Some flowers are bicoloured with both white and pink shades. The centre of the flower is made up of dark purple florets. The flowers are rich in nectar and attract bees. The plant has long, narrow, greyish-green leaves.

Cornflowers are enchanting in flowerbeds, where they form remarkable patches of colour. The mixture of 'Classic Romantic', delightful descendants of the most famous of them all, bring the charm of the countryside to our gardens. Sow cornflowers in wild-looking beds with ornamental grasses such as Stipa tenuifolia or Muhlenbeckia capillaris, catnips, pink love-in-a-mist, California poppies and purple cornflowers. The edible flowers can be used to decorate summer salads. It is also an excellent cut flower.