Centaurea cyanus Black Gem - Black Gem Bachelor Button, Cornflower

Black Gem Bachelor Button plants are easily started from seed. Centaurea cyanus Black Gem is often available in Bachelor Button Seed mixes and with a little searching it can be found separately. Centaurea cyanus Black Gem grows from 1-3 feet tall. The leaves of the Bachelor Button are primarily at the base, grey-green stems divide to hold the dark maroon purple flowers. As might be expected with a plant with such a common name, Bachelor Button, these deep maroon flowers work great as cut flowers. Centaurea cyanus Black Gem grows in full sun to light shade. While the plants last much longer in a well watered garden the Bachelor Buttons live long enough to set seed most years in a rain watered wildflower garden in most coastal gardens. Plant seeds in the Fall when the first rain is about to fall. Dried flowers are used as a tea ingredient. Centaurea cyanus will attract the Painted Lady, California Common Ringlet, Mormon Metalmark, Gray Hairstreak, Hedgerow Hairstreak, Great Purple Hairstreak, White Checkered Skipper, Northern White Skipper, and the Umber Skipper Butterflies to your Butterfly Garden. Follow this link to our Bachelor Button page.