Cornflower Seed Pack
Centaurea cyanus
The bluest flower in Britain, blooming from late May.
1,000 seeds per pack · one-off purchase, no subscription
Buy now- 1,000 seeds, hand-packed in a labelled inner packet with a printed quick-start card
- Dispatched within 1–3 business days, tracked, to any UK address
- Germination guarantee: if they don't sprout, we send them again
Why grow it
- Sown in autumn, flowers from late May — up to six weeks ahead of a spring sowing, on bigger, stronger plants
- Straight into the ground, no pots, no greenhouse — cornflowers are fully hardy and prefer not to be transplanted
- Bees love the open blue flowers, and the stems cut beautifully for a jam-jar posy
When to sow
Sow by mid-October, direct where they'll flower — blue from late May.
| Scotland & the North | Sow straight away — the northern window is closing; cover with a cloche or fleece through the first frosts |
|---|---|
| Midlands, Wales & Northern Ireland | Sow now — by mid-October |
| South of England | Sow by mid-October (mildest South West: to late October) |
Growing questions
Will the seedlings really survive a British winter?
Yes — cornflowers are fully hardy annuals. The seedlings overwinter as low tufts and take frost in their stride. What they dislike is waterlogged clay; if your soil stays wet and sticky for days after rain, start them in modules instead, or choose a raised or free-draining spot.
How do I sow them?
Directly where they'll flower: rake the soil loose, sow about 1 cm deep in rows or scattered patches, and water once. The soil's remaining warmth and autumn rain do most of the work. Thin the seedlings to about 15–20 cm apart once they're up.
When exactly will they flower?
From an October sowing, expect first blue from late May, with the show running into midsummer. The same seed sown in March typically starts in late June — and the earlier you sow this autumn, the bigger that head start.
Do they make good cut flowers?
Very good — long wiry stems, and cutting encourages more buds. Autumn-sown plants are bushier and give noticeably more stems per plant than spring-sown ones.
