# Perennial Cornflower (*Centaurea montana*)

The Perennial Cornflower is a beautiful blue flower that blooms in gardens and fields. It has spiky petals and attracts butterflies, making it a lovely sight in nature.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** Grasslands
- **Also known as:** Mountain Cornflower

![Perennial Cornflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Centaurea_montana.jpg&width=800)

Photo: User:Stemonitis, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Centaurea_montana.jpg)

## Appearance

The Perennial Cornflower has striking, deeply lobed blue-violet ray florets surrounding a darker purple central disc, giving it a thistle-like appearance. Its rough, lance-shaped leaves are a muted grayish-green, providing a soft contrast to the vibrant blooms.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Centaurea

## Interesting facts

- Its scientific name, 'Centaurea', might come from the centaur Chiron!
- The petals can be eaten, adding a colorful garnish to salads!
- The vibrant blue color was once used to create beautiful dyes for fabrics!
- This flower is actually many tiny florets clustered tightly into one 'super flower'!

## Special abilities

- **Rhizome Rambler:** Perennial Cornflower can spread quickly using rhizomes, an underground stem system, helping it colonize new areas.
- **Pollinator Beacon:** Its bright blue-violet flowers act as a beacon, drawing in a wide variety of insects for pollination, ensuring its reproduction.
- **Water Saver:** Perennial Cornflower has hairy leaves that reduce water loss, allowing it to survive in drier conditions.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-90 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 4-7 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen, aiding plant reproduction.
- **Pollinates:** Red Admiral butterfly (*Vanessa atalanta*) — Visits flowers for nectar, transferring pollen.
- **Symbiotic with:** Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (*Rhizophagus irregularis*) — Forms beneficial association with roots, improving nutrient uptake.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't pick flowers in nature, so everyone can enjoy them!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Perennial Cornflower?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Perennial Cornflower?

30-90 cm

### How wide does Perennial Cornflower spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Perennial Cornflower?

4-7 cm

### When does Perennial Cornflower bloom?

Late spring to summer

### Is Perennial Cornflower edible?

Yes

### Is Perennial Cornflower toxic?

None

### What is Perennial Cornflower's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Devil's Kitchen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/devils-kitchen) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve
- [Tobin Harbor Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tobin-harbor-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Perennial Cornflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/perennial-cornflower)