Centaurea orientalis

BASKET WEAVE CORNFLOWER

Centaurea orientalis
BASKET WEAVE CORNFLOWER

Large, fuzzy clear yellow flowers soar up in summer and autumn, to make Centaurea orientalis a dramatic feature plant.
These large and shaggy blooms look like a flock of giant canaries who have all just got out of the shower on a “bad hair day”.

Woven from golden silk

The common name of “Basket Weave Cornflower” fits very well.
As the buds and flower bases have beautiful texture and patterning – like a basket woven from golden silk.
And these spectacular buds are a perfect vessel for the fine, tousled petals.
So both the buds and flowers make striking and excellent cut flowers, as well as eye-catching garden display.

Prized by florists

So flower stems of Centaurea orientalis are prized by commercial florists.
And easy to harvest as the 60cm. stems are so strong and clean.

Soars with flowers in summer

Basket Weave Cornflower forms a low mound of broad leaves, and so the foliage remains quietly decorative, until it soars up with a flock of silky golden flowers in the summer.

Water-wise & drought resistant

Centaurea orientalis relishes a position in Full Sun. Where it is hardy in heat, dry & frost.
It is perfect for water conscious gardeners and those in hot and dry areas.
Because it is drought resistant, and can withstand periods of dry and minimal watering, once established.
And relishes sandy soils, gravel, or rocky places.

Tough & forgiving – so do not overfeed

Tough Centaurea orientalis also copes in soils with low fertility.
But whatever soil you have – do not overfeed or overfertilize your Basket Weave Cornflower.
Or it will grow heaps of foliage and give less of those spectacular, shaggy flower heads.
It is native to hot and dry areas in south western Europe and across into the Middle East.

Low maintenance & bullet proof 

Centaurea orientalis makes a low maintenance, evergreen perennial mound.
The only work required is to cut back the spent flower stems to the ground after blooming.
This tough plant is rarely if ever troubled by pests or diseases. The only real enemy is too much water or too much feed.

Rabbits & deer are not impressed but the bees are

Rabbits and deer do not have it high on their menu. So Centaurea orientalis has a good ranking on the Rabbit and Deer Resistant chart.
But bees, small native honey-eating birds, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators love the flowers as a rich source of nectar and pollen in the hotter days.

In fact, once established in position, Centaurea orientalis is best not disturbed. But instead left to quietly get on with its job of being decorative and virtually bullet proof.
The plant resents it’s stout roots being divided or moved.
Basket Weave Cornflower is in no way invasive or troublesome, and your gardening friends will just have to come to your place to share the beauty (or grow their own from seed).

60cm High in flower (but a low mound when not blooming)  x 75cm Wide evergreen foliage clump approx.

*** Not permitted for entry into Tasmania.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Centaurea orientalis can be sown at any time of year.
Scatter in garden / or sow in a punnet indoors for early plants.

Indoors for quick plants: First scatter the seed on the surface of good quality potting mix.
Then pat gently to the surface of the mix to ensure good contact.
Now cover the seeds with 2mm of sieved mix.

Then thoroughly moisten by standing the punnet in a shallow water bath.
And allow the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.

Centaurea seed should be kept away from light for best germination, so cover punnet with cardboard or black plastic, except for when watering the punnet.

Now place the covered punnet in a warm position (not in direct sunlight).
You can use a heat mat if you have one, and this maintains optimum temperatures.

So temperatures of 18-24°C are best for rapid and optimum germination.

And continue to keep moist by misting the surface from a spray water bottle.

Then seedlings emerge in approx. 21-30 days.

Remove the dark cover as soon as germination begins and grow the seedings on ready to plant in the garden.

Seed Count: 15 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

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