For People Who Love To Garden

The Plant Guide

Bachelor Buttons
  Centaurea cerulea
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Bachelor buttons grow best in open spaces and meadows, or at least, in a roomy part of the garden. The effect is best with a lot of them, but even a small patch can be nice. The flowers float above tall fragile stems, and come in a range of blues, purples, and pinks—although the blue one shown here is my favorite.

Although they bloom longer, they're best in early summer.

 


Vital Statistics
Type: Annual Water: moderate
Zone: Sun: full sun
Height: 18-24' Soil: ordinary, well-drained
Starting: Sow outdoors in early spring. Thin to 6" apart for mass plantings. Growing: Bachelor buttons are really field flowers, so an open sunny spot is ideal. Once growing, require no special care except occasional deadheading if you're into it and optional application of fertilizer.
Etymology: centaurea = 'centaur'; cerulea = 'blue'
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