BASKETFLOWER SEED ,Centaurea americana,Cornflower

Many bees and butterflies visit the flowers for nectar. Recommended for roadsides, prairies, and meadow plantings. For the home garden, use in the back of borders, fragrant gardens, and pollinator gardens.

American Basketflower gets its name from the appearance of the flower buds, which exhibit a basket weave pattern on them. It is a sturdy annual from AR, TX, OK, NM and AZ and is the only Centaurea native to North America. Plants grow up to four feet tall and look similar to thistles but lack the prickly spines. Flowers are up to four inches in diameter, have a sweet, honey-like fragrance and resemble Sweet Sultan. Flowers are great for cutting and drying, and songbirds and game birds will feast on the seeds.

Sowing: Direct sow in late fall or early spring, planting the seeds thinly and 1/2" deep. In the spring, keep the soil moist after sowing; germination should occur within 7-10 days. To start indoors, plant three or four seeds 1/2" below the surface in individual peat pots. Keep the soil lightly moist and at a temperature of 65-70 degrees F until germination; thin to the strongest seedlings. Transplant the seedlings before they reach a height of 5".

Growing: Water seedlings occasionally until they become established. Mature plants prefer dry soil and handle drought well. Prune off developing tips to force the plant to produce more branches and fuller growth, as well as more flowers. This plant attracts butterflies and bees, in addition to providing nutritious seed for birds.