Centaurea scabiosa 

BLACK TOP CORNFLOWER

No TAS / No WA

Centaurea scabiosa
BLACK TOP CORNFLOWER

Tough Centaurea scabiosa simply thrives on neglect.
Not permitted for WA or TASMANIA

Thrives on neglect

But don’t be fooled by it’s rugged health because it is also charmingly pretty and well worth a spot in the garden.

Charming, large, lacy, purple Cornflowers with black, basket weave bases 

Centaurea scabiosa charms with large, lacy, purple Cornflowers with black, basket weave bases, and dark fuzzy buds. So it well earns the common name of Black Top Cornflower.

As good in a vase as they are in the garden

The lacy heads make excellent cut flowers that last as well in a vase as they do in the garden.
With the bonus that they are borne on long, clean stems that harvest well.

Profuse & constant summer blooms

Centaurea scabiosa is long blooming over summer and into autumn.
With the fuzzy purple and black heads constantly popping.
So it really earns it’s place in the garden, and gives a good supply for the vase as well.
The foliage clump is also handsome, with long, slender palm-frond like leaves.

Revels in heat & dry

Centaurea scabiosa revels in Full Sun, and is naturally and perfectly adapted to heat, dry, wind and frost.
Because it is native to seaside cliffs and dry grasslands.
So it is also perfect for seaside gardeners and those with poorer or sandy soils; or for those who garden on soils with a lot of lime and a high pH.
Though tough Centaurea scabiosa can also take clay and acid soils in it’s stride.

Excellent choice for gardeners with limited water supply

Black Top Cornflower makes an excellent choice for gardeners with limited water.
As it is a water-wise plant, and has good resistance to periods of dry.

Rabbit & deer resistant

Even our foes the rabbits and deer find Centaurea scabiosa too tough for them, and tend to leave it alone while they head to tastier morsels.

Resistant to heavy frost

Robust Centaurea scabiosa serenely resists heavy frosts down to at least -20C, once established and depending on conditions.

Tough low maintenance perennial

In summary Centaurea scabiosa is an incredibly tough, low maintenance, evergreen perennial.

Impressive 75m Height in flower x 60cm Wide very decorative mound of foliage.

*** Not permitted for entry into Tasmania.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Centaurea scabiosa seeds can be sown indoors at any time of the year.
Or you can scatter seeds directly in the garden in spring / or sow in a punnet indoors for early plants and higher germination rate.

Indoors for early plants: First scatter the seed on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
And pat the seeds gently on the surface of the mix to ensure good contact.
Then cover the seeds with 2mm depth of sieved mix / fine grit.

Now thoroughly moisten by standing the sown punnet in a shallow water bath, and allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.

Then keep the sown punnet in a warm, well-lit place.
But exclude light at first for best germination.
As these seeds have better germination rate in initially dark conditions.
So you can place a piece of carboard, or black plastic over the punnet to keep dark conditions until the seeds begin to germinate, then immediately remove the dark cover.

Continue to keep the mix consistently moist by misting from a spray water bottle as required.
A clear plastic cover, after sprouting begins, can also help to maintain consistent moisture and prevent drying out

Temperatures of 18-24°C approx. are best for rapid germination.
A temperature controlled heat mat is a great help to maintain optimum temperatures and rapid germination of maximum number of seeds.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 7-21 days.

Seed Count: 30 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

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