Bachelor Button Seeds

Bachelor Button seeds produce beautiful periwinkle blooms that make for great cut flowers and pollinator plants. They keep their color well when dried too. Also known as cornflower, this dependable annual is native to Europe, though it has made its home across North America and grows great in Southern California and the American southwest. Drought tolerant, Blue Bachelor Button prefers to bloom during the cooler temperatures of spring. The flower may have gotten its name from early use when bachelors would wear them in the buttonholes of their suit coats while courting.

Planting by Zones

Zones 9-10

• Cornflower, also known as bachelor button, is a wildflower that establishes easily in Southern California and Zones 9 and 10. Can overwinter in mild climates.

Zones 2-8

• Grown as annual. Start seed indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost. Transplant out after the danger of frost is gone. Not a fussy plant!

Planting Cornflower Seeds

• Cornflower seeds are very small and should be sown close to the surface of the soil. If you are starting the seeds indoors in trays or in starter pots, start seeds in a high-quality seed starting mix. Sprinkle the seed on top of well-moistened soil and cover with 1/16″ (.2cm) of finely sifted soil. Seeds will germinate in 15-21+ days. You can easily direct sow the seeds. Sow the seeds in well-worked soil that has been finely raked clear of debris. Cover with 1/16″ (.2cm) well-sifted soil. It is recommended to direct sow your seeds before the seasonal rains in Southern California.

Growing Cornflower

• This old-fashioned annual flower works well in vegetable gardens, wildflower gardens, and more! Easy to grow and makes an excellent cut flower.
• We have more info on growing Bachelor Buttons on the blog!

Growing Cornflower in Containers

• If you are planting cornflower in containers, make sure your container is at least 10″ (25.4cm) deep. We do not recommend planting more than one plant per container as they can get large. Overcrowding will cause the plant to be unhappy and provide fewer blooms. The larger the container, the more blooms you will get. Keep in mind containers will dry out faster because they have more surface area and less soil to hold onto moisture.

Harvesting Cornflower Flowers

• Cornflower flowers are adorable and make for great cut flowers. Harvest flowers early in the morning and put directly in a vase of room temperature water for the longest-lasting blooms.

Southern California Pro Tips

• In Zones 9 and 10, cornflower will grow happily from early spring until late fall. Cornflower can perennialize in mild climates. If left to overwinter, cutting cornflower back to the ground can help it regrow in the spring.
• DO NOT overhead water as this promotes disease.

• Companion Flowers/Crops

  Cornflowers grow well with other brightly colored flowers. We love to grow them in front of our sunflowers, hollyhocks, and other tall blooming flowers. A tip for making stunning flower gardens is to plant dwarf or short varieties in front of tall blooming flowers. This gives your garden depth and color, making it even more attractive.
  

Additional Learning Resources

• New to starting crops from seeds? Please read our article, Starting Seeds Indoors, to learn the basics!