- Botanical name: Centaurea cyanus 'Black Ball'
- Common name: Cornflower
- Family: Asteraceae
- Plant Type: Annual
Purple
Blue/Green
- Key features:
- Attractive to wildlife
- Flowers
The annual blue cornflower, Centaurea cyanus, is a slender plant bearing pretty flowers in rich shades of blue. It’s commonly used in pictorial and annual meadow schemes, and makes an excellent cut flower. Cultivars of the species may have red, pink, and white flowers.
Centaurea cyanus ‘Black Ball’ bears unusual chocolate-coloured flowers on thin wiry stems. It’s extremely attractive to bees.
For best results, grow Centaurea cyanus ‘Black Ball’ in moist but well-drained soil, in full sun. The wiry plants may need support in exposed situations. Deadhead spent blooms to prolong flowering in summer, but leave seeds to develop towards autumn, as these will provide food for birds.
How to grow Centaurea 'Black Ball'
-
Plant size
75cm height
30cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Front
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do Sow in March |
A
Do Sow in April |
M
Do not Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do not Sow in September |
O
Do not Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
Centaurea 'Black Ball' and wildlife
Centaurea 'Black Ball' is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, birds and other pollinators. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers and has seeds for birds.
Attractive to Bees
Attractive to Beneficial insects
Attractive to Birds
Does not attract Butterflies/Moths
Attractive to Other pollinators
Is Centaurea 'Black Ball' poisonous?
Centaurea 'Black Ball' has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Centaurea 'Black Ball'
