Fothergill's Cornflower Black Ball Seeds

Details:

• Botanical Name: Centaurea cyanus, a premium, distinctive selection within the Cornflower genus.
• Plant Class: Hardy Annual, growing effortlessly from seed to establish a full, high-impact floral display in its first year.
• Striking Claret Blooms: Bears intricate, fully double, thistle-like flower heads in a deeply saturated, velvety rich dark claret that brings sophisticated drama to any planting scheme.
• Growth Habit & Size: Displays a well-branched, bushy, and medium upright habit, reaching an ideal mid-to-back-border height of 75cm (30in).
• Premium Cut Flower: An exceptional choice for home styling; the sturdy, wiry stems and long-lasting flower heads make them perfect for fresh summer vase arrangements.
• Garden Versatility: Remarkably tough and adaptable; it performs beautifully when positioned in partial shade or full sun, thriving across most ordinary garden soil types.
• Wildlife Support: Highly effective at drawing beneficial insects into the garden, acting as a natural magnet for bumblebees and butterflies, while the autumn seed heads provide a nutritious food source for wild birds.

Care Instructions:

• Sowing Position: Sow seeds thinly directly outdoors from March to May into finely raked, weed-free, and well-drained soil where they are to bloom. Alternatively, sow in September for a head start and extra-early flowers the following spring. Position in partial shade or full sun.
• Thinning: Once the young seedlings emerge, thin them out gradually to approximately 20–25cm apart to prevent overcrowding and to promote a robust, bushy architecture.
• Maintenance: Deadhead the faded, spent flowers regularly throughout the summer months to dramatically extend the blooming window and keep a steady supply of fresh buds coming.