Growing Bachelor Buttons: Tips About The Care Of Bachelor Button Plants
Bachelor button flowers, often called cornflowers, are an old fashioned specimen you may recall from grandmother's garden. In fact, bachelor buttons have adorned European and American gardens for centuries. Bachelor button flowers grow well in a full sun location and care of bachelor button plants is minimal.
Bachelor Button Flowers
Bachelor buttons (Centaurea cyanus) offer many uses in the landscape, as this European native naturalizes easily in most parts of the United States. Attractive flowers, now in shades of red, white and pink are available in addition to the traditional blue color of bachelor button flowers.
Combine red, white and blue varieties for a patriotic display on the 4th of July. Plant bachelor button flowers in borders, rock gardens and sunny areas where they can spread and naturalize.
Frilly, showy flowers grow on multi-branching stems, which may reach 2 to 3 feet (60-90 cm.). Bachelor button flowers are reseeding annuals and blooms may be single or double.
Once planted, you will be growing bachelor buttons year after year as the reseed freely.
How to Grow Bachelor Buttons
Growing bachelor buttons can be as simple as broadcasting or planting seeds outdoors in spring. Seeds may be started earlier inside and moved to the garden when frost danger has passed.
Care of bachelor buttons plants requires watering to get them started and little else for continued bachelor buttons care. Once established, the flower is drought resistant and will self-seed for a continuing display in coming years.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free download of our most popular eBook "How to Grow Delicious Tomatoes."
Bachelor buttons care can include deadheading the plants to prevent prolific self-seeding. This can control next year's spread of the cornflower. Weeding out sprigs growing in unwanted areas may also be included in bachelor buttons care and maintenance. Growing bachelor buttons need a well drained soil, which may be poor and rocky or somewhat fertile.
When growing bachelor buttons, take advantage of their indoor uses as cut or dried flowers. Once the flower is cut, it offers a long-lasting display in cut flower arrangements. This specimen was often worn in lapels of the courting gentleman of days past, hence the common name bachelor button.
After learning how to grow bachelor button, you will find many uses for the long-lasting flower.
Becca Badgett was a regular contributor to Gardening Know How for ten years. Co-author of the book How to Grow an EMERGENCY Garden, Becca specializes in succulent and cactus gardening.
-
Which 7 Types of Cypress Are Best to Grow?
There are numerous types of cypress trees. From tall, majestic rows that grow throughout Italy to the bright bushy lemon varieties, there’s one that suits your region best.
By Teo Spengler
-
Planting For Chickens: Why You Should Plant A Chicken Garden
If you’ve never considered planting for chickens, this is your chance to enjoy their joyful benefits. We show you how to make an easy chicken garden
By Amy Grant
-
Deadheading Bachelor’s Buttons: Learn When To Cut Back Bachelor’s Buttons
Should I deadhead bachelor's button plants? Although they require little care, pruning and deadheading bachelor's buttons prolongs the blooming season. Learn how to prune a bachelor's button in this article to enjoy these flowers longer.
By Mary H. Dyer
-
How To Grow Bachelor’s Button Seeds: Saving Bachelor’s Button Seeds For Planting
Collecting bachelor's button seeds is extremely easy, and growing bachelor's button seeds is a great way to spread them around your garden. Learn more about bachelor's button seed propagation and how to grow bachelor's button seeds here.
By Liz Baessler
-
Yellow Leaves On Bachelor’s Button – Why Do Plant Leaves Turn Yellow
Bachelor's buttons are generally carefree plants. That's why gardeners are surprised when something goes wrong with these summer garden staples. Find out what to do when your bachelor's button leaves are turning yellow in this article.
By Jackie Carroll
-
Cornflower Plants In Containers: Can You Grow Bachelor’s Buttons In A Pot
Can you grow bachelor's button flowers in a pot? You sure can! Click here to learn about container grown cornflower care.
By Bonnie L. Grant
-
Bachelor’s Button Problems: Why Are My Flowers Falling Over
Like most tall annuals, bachelor's buttons tend to fall over when loaded with flowers. Learn how to deal with bachelor's buttons falling over in this article. Click here to find helpful information for keeping these plants standing upright.
By Jackie Carroll