Centaurea cyanus
Cornflower
Cornflower, also known as bachelor's button, is an annual flowering plant native to Europe. It grows up to 100 centimeters tall with grey-green branched stems and lanceolate leaves. The flowers are typically an intense blue color, arranged in flowerheads with a ring of large, spreading ray florets surrounding a central cluster of disc florets. The plant is known for its high genetic diversity and self-incompatibility, although occasional selfing can result in inbreeding depression.
Details
Asterales
Asteraceae
Centaurea
The blue color of the cornflower is due to protocyanin, an anthocyanin pigment. The plant contains a wide range of pharmacologically active compounds, including flavonoids, anthocyanins, and aromatic acids. These compounds contribute to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and gastroprotective properties.
Cornflower petals are edible and can be used raw, dried, or cooked. They are often used to add color to foods such as cheeses, oils, salads, drinks, and desserts. In herbal medicine, extracts from the flower heads are used for their anti-inflammatory properties to treat minor ocular inflammations. The plant is also valued by beekeepers for its sweet nectar, which has a high sugar content. Additionally, cornflowers are used for phytoremediation of soils contaminated with lead.
Summer
Late spring or early fall
20–100 cm
Intense blue, occasionally pink or purple
Full sun and neutral to mildly alkaline, moist, well-drained soil. Tolerant to drought once established.
Info
Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.
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