Centaurea montana
Mountain cornflower (Centaurea montana) is a perennial that reaches 50 cm × 60 cm after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about €4.50.
A perennial relative of the cornflower: a bushy clump of grey-green, lance-shaped leaves carrying large, fringed blue flowers with a violet centre in late spring and early summer, much visited by bees and butterflies. Plant it in sun or light shade in free-draining soil, poor or limy ground is fine, because it rots in heavy, waterlogged earth. It spreads by runners and by seed, so cut it back after flowering to keep it in check, which often brings a second flush in autumn.
| Group | Perennial |
| Light | Full sun, Part shade |
| Size after 10 years | 50 cm × 60 cm |
| Ultimate size | 30–60 cm × 30–60 cm |
| Hardiness | down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7) |
| Soil | Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Flowering | May–August, blue, purple |
| Water need | Medium |
| Drought tolerance | Medium |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Root aggressiveness | Low |
| Suckering | no data |
| Spreading | High |
| Distance from buildings | no data |
| Distance from paving | no data |
| Litter | not typical |
| Planting distance | 40 cm |
| For dogs | Non-toxic (uncertain) |
| For cats | Non-toxic (uncertain) |
| For children | Non-toxic (uncertain) |
| Typical price | from about €4.50 |
Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.
The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.
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Size
|
Typical price
|
|---|---|
| size not stated | approx. €4.50 – €9.30 |
Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made
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