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Herbaceous Perennial

Centaurea montana 'Parham'

perennial cornflower 'Parham'

A clump-forming perennial to around 60cm high in flower, with a spreading habit and simple, downy green leaves. Flowers from early to mid summer, with slender stems bearing buds encased in overlapping bracts, which open to large, showy flowers with a ring of lavender blue outer florets, surrounding a crowd of tiny white flowers with purple tips

Synonyms

Centaurea montana 'Parham Variety'

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming, Spreading branched
Genus: Centaurea may be annuals, perennials or subshrubs, with simple or pinnately lobed leaves and showy thistle-like flowers-heads, often with enlarged outer florets
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any moist but well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. May benefit from support to prevent flopping, see staking: perennials

Propagation

Propagate by division, separating rhizomes in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Wildflower meadow
Wildlife gardens
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds
Ground cover

Pruning

Cut back after flowering to encourage fresh foliage, may produce a second flush in late summer

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to downy mildews, powdery mildews and rust diseases

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