Thursday, September 22, 2011

'Black Sprite' cornflower

USDA hardiness zones 3-9
Centaura montana
Centaura montana

This perennial grows in a bed bordering the front porch in sandy soil in Lansing, New York. Two plants were put in.  It is deer resistant and an old fashioned favorite that can  be used for cut flowers or in dried arrangements.  This hybrid (new this year) has purplish black flowers that bloom July to August on plants growing up to 14 inches tall.  The centaurea is also available with white, pink, yellow or blue flowers.
In 2012, the first full growing season, the plants bloomed at the beginning of June.
The  plants are about 10 inches tall.