General Culture:

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Drought tolerant. Avoid rich, fertile soils. Can spread somewhat rapidly by stolons to form colonies in optimum growing conditions (particularly in cool northern climates where it is more robust). Remove spent flower stalks to the ground after bloom. Sparse rebloom in late summer-early fall may occur. Plants need to be divided every 2-3 years.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Centaurea montana is an erect, stoloniferous, clump-forming perennial which features solitary, fringed, rich blue cornflowers (2" diameter) with reddish blue centers and black-edged involucre bracts. Flowers appear in late spring atop unbranched stems typically growing 1-2' tall. Gray-green, lance-shaped lower leaves to 7" long. Commonly called mountain bluet, perennial cornflower or perennial bachelor's button.