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Perennial

Mountain cornflower

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 HUF 2,500.

Illustration of Mountain cornflower
An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

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.

Watch out for
Powdery mildew and rust can occur, and stem rot in heavy, wet soil. In good soil it spreads quickly and wants dividing every two or three years. In the hot, dry lowland summers of Central Europe it is less vigorous than in cooler, upland gardens.

Key facts

Light
Full sun, Part shade
Water need
Medium
Care
Medium
Size after 10 years
50 cm × 60 cm
Hardiness
down to -40 °C
Foliage
Deciduous
Flowering
May–August, blue, purple
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 HUF 2,500

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

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.

Size
Typical price
size not stated approx. HUF 2,500 – HUF 2,800

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

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