Bachelor’s Button

 

"Cornflower"

    The Bachelor's Button is an easy-to-grow blue flower that blooms from Spring to Summer. If you are a fan of butterflies, this flower is sure to attract them! They come in an assortment of colors from pink, purple, white, blue, and red, etc. 

    

    I chose what is labeled sometimes as the "Blue Boys." Be sure to check your labels when purchasing. The Centaurea Montana Seeds are (perennials) sometimes referred to as a mountain bluet or a mountain cornflower. However, check the package for the plant's scientific name to confirm whether it's a perennial or annual plant prior to purchase. 

Centaurea Montana (Perennial)

    

    The Centaurea Cyanus  or Bachelor's Button is an (annual.) However, they are self-sowing. It is used heavily as a dried flower in the florist trade. It's name comes from an Englishman tradition where men, who were courting, would stick one into the butthole of their jackets.  

Centaurea Cyanus (Annual)

• 10-14 days to germinate. 
• Sow Depth 1/4 inch.
• Seed Spacing 1-3 inches.
• Growing Height 1-3 ft.
• Annual or Perennial
• Full Sun to Partial.
• Frost Hardy - YES
• Ideal Temp. 60-75 F
• Self-Sows Freely
• Remove Spent Blooms To Prolong Blooming.
• Stalking necessary under heavy winds or rain.

USDA Hardiness Zone

    Check your USDA Hardiness Zone to determine the best time to sow your seeds. 

 The Centaurea Cyanus  or Bachelor's Button (annual) is hardy in zones 2-11. The Centaurea Montana Seeds (perennials) are hardy in zones 3-8. In general, you can sow the seeds after the last frost. They do best in full sun but will tolerate some partial shade. 

How To Grow Bachelor's Buttons

    Planning Your Garden

    As I stated before, mine grew more than 3 feet tall and many began to coil under rain and wind. They reached 45 inches in height, so choose the location well. When planning your garden layout, remember they grow quite tall and can prevent other plants photosynthesis. 

    Plant Does Best When

    They do best in full sun of at least 6 hours. In hotter places, give them afternoon shade to prolong their blooms. They require soil that drains well or it may lead to fungal infection. They do best in soil that is slightly alkaline to slightly acidic which would be approximatelly between 6.6 to 7.5 ph. You can use compost or a slow release balanced fertilizer before you sow the seeds or every 1-2 months sparingly.

    Will They Come Back? 

    They self-sow freely, so dead heading or thinning them out may be necessary to keep them from overgrowing. You can also use the spent buds for planting the next year. Bachelor Button's are an aggressive plant that you can showcase or use as a filler. 

    Companion Plants

    Bachelor's Buttons attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators, so they are beneficial for fruits and vegetables. They are also great flower garden companions for gayfeather, black-eyed susans, lady's mantle, yarrow, snapdragons, geraniums, marigolds, coreopsis, dwarf zinnias, sweet alyssum, borage, bee balm, garden phlox, coneflower, red poppies, aster, daisies, roses, pansies, nasturtiums, mint, dill, and cosmos.

    What Do They Attract And Repel?

    Aside from attracting butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, they also attract flower flies that eat aphids. They attract predator bugs like ladybugs, lacewigs, ground beetles, and other insects that feed on pests. Small birds, such as goldfinches, chickadees, and other song birds eat their seeds. Rabbits love to eat them because of their sweet nectar. They are deer resistant. 

    Benefits of Bachelor's Button

    Bachelor's Buttons are edible flowers.They can be dried and used in tea blends. The juice in the stem can be used to stop bleeding from open wounds and as a mouth rinse. 

Medicinal properties include: 

• anti-inflammatory
• antioxidant
• anti-microbial
• They have a potent flavonoid compound called anthocyanin. 
• In herbal teas they are used to treat: stomach ulcers and bleeding gums or mouth sores, as well as respiratory issues and as an expectorant to help clear the respiratory tract. 
• In potent tonics they are used to treat urinary tract infections, detoxify the liver, and boost immune system against cold and flu, and help with digestive tract. 
• The naturally occuring tannins helps with coagulation while the antiseptic properties of the plant help with healing of open wounds. 
• It was used as an extract for conjunctivitis. 
• As an anti-inflammatory it can help alleviate puffy eyes or used on rashes. 
• It's extract has also been used as a diuretic, relieve menstrual cramps and associated symptoms, anxiety disorders, and for headaches (parthenolides in their leaves). 
• It was used by Native Americans as a remedy for bites or stings of venomous animals such as scorpions and restoring weak eyes.
• Bachelor's Button has been used in traditional medicine to treat fever, as it is believed to have a cooling effect on the body.
• The plant's leaves contain parthenolides, which have been shown to have anti-tumor properties and may be effective in preventing certain types of cancer.
• Bachelor's Button has a mild sedative effect and has been used to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety.
• The plant's flowers are often used in cosmetics and skincare products due to their anti-inflammatory properties and ability to soothe irritated skin.