Cornflowers are one of the most beautiful plants in your garden. Cornflowers - description with photo of the flower; its beneficial properties and contraindications (benefits and harms); collection and storage; use in healing and cooking

The human psychological perception of apparent simplicity is amazing.

Admiring the luxury of varietal roses, dahlias or double tulips, he freezes in amazement when he sees a modest blue flower - cornflower.

He is beautiful both in the field, where he likes to settle, especially in the rye, and in the garden. A well-groomed varietal or a simple “free” flower is good for anyone.

A blue scattering of cornflowers is a picture of peace, tranquility and endless space. Cornflower pleases the eye and soul, although with your mind you understand that this beauty is a weed in the fields of spring and winter crops.

Beauty is not the only pleasant advantage of a plant. You can admire it and, if necessary, treat it.

Its “medical” name sounds official: “Cornflower officinalis.”

Blue beauty is also used in cooking.

Where does cornflower come from?

The origin of a representative of the Asteraceae family has different versions:

The homeland of the plant, familiar to many from childhood, is supposedly southern Europe;
The Greeks claim that this is a native Greek flower, and a royal one at that: “basilicon”;
Ukrainians are convinced that, according to legend, a bright blue flower first appeared in their rye crops. Rejected handsome guy An angry mermaid turned her lover into a plant. And it blooms, turning blue in the field, like the eyes of that guy;
People who noticed the cornflower's predilection for rye crops decided that it arrived in ancient times along with cereal seeds - from Asia;
Believers put together their parables. According to one, it was the cornflower that helped find the cross buried after the crucifixion of Christ. The Romans ordered slave Basil to sow henbane on top of the cross. And the Lord turned these seeds into others. Beautiful blue delicate flowers have sprouted. Several centuries later, these flowers showed Christians where the cross was located.

There are many legends. That’s why the names too.

This is both mermaid love and blue flower. It is also called bobilnik, rye patchwork.

Almost every flower name is supported by legends and interesting stories.

One thing is certain: the flower is truly ancient. They say that a cornflower blue wreath was even found in the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Botanical description

Blue cornflower is an annual or biennial. The stem can be straight, but it can also be branched.

The plant is herbaceous. The leaves are lanceolate, linear in shape. Inflorescences are baskets. The flower in the middle is purple.

The marginal, bell-shaped, funnel-shaped flowers are blue.

This is how cornflowers are presented in nature.

Beauty and nature do not save a plant from the “agricultural tag”: weed.

He loves grains, threshes them together, and ends up in seed stocks.

In the gardens, even the common cornflower is a welcome guest.

Having appeared, it receives permanent registration in the flowerbeds of flower lovers.

There are other colors: white, red, purple, pink. There are yellow and burgundy ones.

This is the work of breeders, the original color is blue.

The gardeners' favorite grows up to a meter tall. Some varieties are half that size.

Biology

Cornflower is photophilous. In order for him to express himself in all his glory, he definitely needs plenty of light.

But it is not so demanding of heat; it even tolerates frost. Cold resistance allowed the flower to spread widely.

Its range is large: the plant only did not reach the northern cold (Far North) and did not adapt to the heat of the South.

Attitude to moisture different types plants are not the same.

The root system of the annual plant is less developed, the root is shallow taproot, and the bush itself is more compact.

The annual plant needs moderate but regular moisture.

Perennial flower - rhizomatous. Its underground part is powerful, and its above-ground part is also powerful.

Greenery covers the ground, retaining moisture, rhizomes keep moisture in the soil.

Therefore, such a cornflower will withstand a short drought without damage.

Perennial cornflowers can easily be grown without changing location for several years, or even permanently.

Regarding nutrition, the blue flower is the original. He doesn't like fertility. He is even modest in his diet.

If you “feed” it royally, like other crops, it may not bloom. Or it won’t produce seeds.

But sandy soils or roadsides compacted by tires - this is his environment.

Although it works better on light, loose soils (sandy). Prefers neutrality - neutral acidity. Acidic soils are absolutely not suitable.

The plant blooms generously and for a long time - from spring to autumn cold weather.

Cornflower seeds are small, numerous achenes. Fertility is decent - reaches 7 thousand seeds.

Healing properties

Pleasant cornflower medicinal properties revealed his to people in ancient times.

It’s not for nothing that the flower was called royal. It was believed to be extremely healing.

Official modern medicine has not ignored cornflower. The flower has been studied, the ancient people were not mistaken.

The composition of the marginal flowers of the plant is rich and healing:

Anthocyanins – antioxidants – are a powerful anti-cancer defense for the body. They delay aging and prolong youth.
Flavones are precursors of flavonoids, biologically valuable substances. Natural flavonoids (there are also very expensive synthetic ones) are a treasure trove of health effects. Cornflowers:
- Reduce blood pressure;
- Act as an antioxidant;
- Relieves spasms;
- Calm;
- Stimulate the secretion of estrogen;
- Give a diuretic effect;
- Anti-inflammatory;
- Heal ulcers.
Glycosides are heart helpers;
Pigments;
Vitamins;
Minerals necessary for metabolism (iron, potassium, copper, calcium).

Traditional medicine uses cornflower in the treatment of inflammatory (blepharitis, conjunctivitis) eye diseases, edema (heart and kidney), and diseases of the urinary system.

Over the centuries the people have tested and implemented more methods treatment with blue-headed flower.

Carefully preserving and passing on unique family recipes by inheritance, our ancestors brought the benefits of cornflower blue to us.

In addition to the above, they are popularly treated with a blue flower:

Cough;
Colds;
Stomach pain;
Liver;
Sore throat, laryngitis;
Gallbladder;
Sluggish bowel;
Tachycardia;
Allergies, especially childhood diathesis;
Fever;
Night blindness (when vision is impaired at dusk);
To remove warts - make a powder from ground seeds, apply the powder to the warts on a gauze pad;
Crushed fresh flowers are applied to the wounds, healing proceeds faster.

For nursing mothers, cornflower infusion helps increase milk supply.

Pregnant women relieve toxicosis with it.

Infusion. It is better to cook in a thermos; you can also use a water bath.

1 tablespoon of dry raw material is enough. Pour a glass of boiling water over the flowers and leave for an hour (if in a thermos).

The second method is water bath 15 minutes, then wait to cool.

The resulting strained medicine is suitable both externally and for internal use.

Drink a tablespoon (tablespoon) three times a day for:

Cholelithiasis;
Intestinal disorders;
Diabetes;
Diseases of the urinary tract, kidneys.

Externally - treat:

Eyes. They are instilled to relieve fatigue and increase vigilance. They make lotions.
Skin diseases.

Tincture. In a volume ratio of 1:10, pour the dry marginal flowers of cornflower with vodka.

After 2 weeks, you can treat the liver and eliminate gall bladder problems.

Dosage: 20 (up to 30, depending on tolerance) drops, randomly diluted with water.

The same remedy will calm nervousness.

Cosmetic use

The flower is good and useful in many industries. The cosmetics and perfume industry would be poorer without the cornflower flower addition.

Self-prepared ones will give a cosmetic effect:

Lotion. Add a spoonful of vodka to a glass of infusion, and your homemade lotion is ready. In case of increased skin oiliness, the product will gently eliminate the problem.
The infusion (the recipe is the same, cook in a thermos) treats acne. You can wash your face with it or wipe your face. Cornflower will also help with dandruff.
An infusion and a basket (the whole flower) will help hair growth and stimulate it. Pour 200 g of vinegar with the same volume of boiling water into a bowl with a tablespoon of raw materials - baskets. Half an hour of infusion, and you can rub the original product into the scalp. Or wash your hair by adding cornflower infusion to the water. There is no need to be afraid of vinegar: the recipe has been tested many times.

In cosmetology they use:

Industrially produced lotions with cornflower. They are in demand: they cleanse the skin well, the pores narrow, and become invisible. Biologically active components have a rejuvenating effect, give a matte shade, removing oily shine.
Creams containing cornflower extract ideally care for especially sensitive eyelid skin and remove puffy circles under the eyes.
Hair also responds gratefully to washing with cornflower blue shampoos. They restore healthy shine to hair tired of hair sprays and other chemicals and stimulate active growth.
Bathing products (shower gels) with medicinal plant They don’t just cleanse – they nourish the skin of the body.
Body lotions with the extract of blue medicine flowers added to them are also good and popular among connoisseurs. Healing components and aroma add and pamper the skin.

Food use

Collecting raw materials is labor-intensive; only the marginal, funnel-shaped flowers of the basket are used.

This handmade. The baskets are torn off first, but the tubular middle flowers should not be present in the prepared raw materials.

Therefore, the work is painstaking: each inflorescence (basket) must be “plucked” - small healing bells must be pulled out and placed to dry.

But these fragrant flowers are grown, harvested and used even for food purposes.

The scale is industrial. These petals alone replace several seasonings at once.

Adding cornflower blue seasoning to sausages, canned food, and meat products gives the product a range of flavors.

Cornflower combines lemon-mint and clove aromas, gourmets appreciate it.

Varieties of cornflower

An ancient flower spread across different continents, it has many species. More than five hundred of them are known.

Two species are widespread throughout the country: meadow and blue.

Both are recognized by medicine as medicinal; in this parameter they are not inferior to each other.

Other types are also healing and beautiful.

The most common:

Lugovoi loves forest clearings, meadows, and bushes. That's where he settles. Perennial. The flowers are purple, maybe white. The beauty of the plant lies in the outer flowers. It is interesting that they are sterile: nature did not give them either stamens or pistils. But with their brightness and aroma they “signal” to insects: here is a flower! And the bees fly to the tubular flowers of a wonderful honey plant. The baskets make yellow paint.
Blue is a cereal lover. Settles directly in grain crops. His favorite surroundings are rye, wheat, and barley. If you see blue baskets of a familiar flower along the side of the road, it’s blue. This species also settles close to housing. Blue cornflower It can be annual, but it can also be biennial. Blue – species name. Its color varies: blue, blue, purple with a pink tint. This type was previously used to produce paint. Blue, as opposed to meadow.
White. A low (25 cm) plant with terry baskets of white flowers. Rare plant– protected by law, listed in the Red Book. Perennial.
Oriental. Tall, more than a meter, wild-growing perennial. Basket yellow color. Outwardly it looks a little like cornflower.
Two more yellow cornflowers – large-headed and yellow. Tall, spherical inflorescences, shaped like burdock flowers.
Whitened - the name suggests: there is a white color. Not at the flower, at the leaves located below. The top ones are ordinary, green. Decorative. Pink flowers.
Pink. By name and color. Tall perennial.
Spreading. Low growing, but highly branched. The flowers are white or pink.

Based on these species, breeders have created a kaleidoscope of cornflower varieties.

Popular:

Adigel – terry white;
Cherry crown – red terry;
Lady Florence is a mountaineer. Perennial. Delicate openwork lace basket shape white;
Golden yellow. Perennial, tall, round, fluffy baskets, like chickens;
Blue diadem – cut terry branched, light blue;
Glow. Pink double perennial.

There are varieties - mixtures different colors: Favorite, Compliment. Each has its own special color and shape of petals.

“Fluffy” ones are preferably grown, terry varieties, but the ordinary ones are also very elegant.

Original pollination of cornflower

The pollination mechanism common to all cornflowers is very interesting.

The stamens and pistils of tubular flowers, ready for pollination, cannot do without insects.

The stamens release ripe pollen into the flower tube. And at the bottom of this tube there are hairs.

It also contains a pestle. It cannot be pollinated by the pollen of its own flower - cross-pollination.

But when the insect takes the nectar out of the tube, the hairs and filaments of the stamens immediately contract, pushing out the pistil.

Along the way, the pistil captures pollen and “shoots” directly into the bee’s abdomen.

This does not cause her any concern, but his abdomen is already covered in pollen.

The pollinator, having collected nectar, will carry pollen to other flowers. And this pestle will wait for another insect.

Sowing (planting) cornflower

Annual varieties are cultivated only when sown with seeds.

Perennials allow for variations - you can use seeds, or you can divide the rhizome, and there will be material for planting.

Seed propagation

Sow seeds either in pots ( seedling cultivation), or into the ground.

This causes the sowing dates to shift: seedlings in closed ground sown earlier. In spring: March, April – depends on the region.

Without shelter, cornflowers are sown later. It is cold-resistant, but it germinates better when it is warm, so it is recommended to sow at the border of April and May.

Annual cornflowers are propagated exclusively by seeds, seedlings or the soil method.

When growing through seedlings, do not pick growing plants. The tap root, if you disturb it during transplantation, you will get weak specimens.

The solution is simple: sow immediately peat pots. By planting ready-made seedlings together with a pot, protect the root from injury and improve survival rate.

The soil is prepared carefully for sowing: it is loosened, then it is advisable to compact the top layer.

They do this for two reasons: this way the moisture is retained better, and the seeds are at the same level and do not spill deeply.

The seeds are small, seeding is minimal, no deeper than 2 cm. The soil is not allowed to dry out before germination, otherwise the crust will not allow tender shoots to emerge.

Option: mulching. Peat and plant residues are suitable. Mulch will retain moisture until germination and reduce labor intensity: watering less frequently.

The cornflower grows thickly; subsequent thinning will be required. The distance in the row is approximately 15 cm.

Weeding, loosening, watering are maintenance operations of the initial period.

When the plants get stronger, they no longer require care, all that remains is not to dry out or over-moisten the soil.

Vegetative propagation

Perennial cornflowers are often planted in divisions of rhizomes.

When planting with root segments, you need to divide them so that there is one bud on the planting material.

The soil should be as sandy and loose as possible if you want the plant to please you and reveal its full varietal potential.

The distance for this type of reproduction is greater: up to half a meter. Perennial cornflowers grow stronger, the rhizomes will go horizontally in the soil.

The rhizomes are divided and planted either in the spring or after flowering - in the fall.

In the spring, the divisions are planted shallowly in warmed soil.

Make sure that the bud is not buried, remains flush with the surface, and the roots are straightened, not “looking” up or into the middle.

Varieties that grow exclusively horizontally with their rhizomes can be planted deeper. The kidney will tolerate a depth of 2 cm.

If the soil is damp, just knead it a little around the planted cornflower. If it’s a little dry, water it.

The soil will be evenly distributed around the roots.

The royal flower is taking root well, special conditions does not require.

Feeding is usually not necessary if the place for the cornflower is chosen correctly.

Plant care

Cornflower, with all the diversity and splendor of varieties, requires almost no care.

You can say this about him: “grows like grass.”

Care stages:

Sowing (planting);
Watering - as necessary, infrequent;
Loosening row spacing before germination;
Weeding and thinning of seedlings.

The rest of the plant will provide for itself.

Cornflowers are not at all capricious: care is simple, the result is pleasing.

Pests and diseases

Cornflower is a happy flower. It does not have specific pests that target it and is almost not susceptible to diseases.

Hares and roe deer love him. It is difficult to call them pests.

If the area is close to the forest, the hare may look in, but unlikely in the summer. It’s even less likely that it’s behind the cornflower.

With the correct watering regime, the plant does not get sick at all.

If it is “flooded”, fungal organisms can take advantage of this, and fusarium cannot be ruled out.

The correct choice of soil and proper regulation of moisture will eliminate the incidence of disease.

Cornflower has long attracted the attention of artists, needlewomen, and craftsmen. Embroidery, paintings, tableware painting, coats of arms of cities - wherever this flower is present.

Place it in a well-lit area of the garden. Whether field or varietal, any one will certainly delight with its grace and unpretentiousness.

The long-term one will become a familiar friend. Annuals will roam according to your wishes.

Both will lift your spirits and give you a boost of energy. And if necessary, they will provide health care.

Make friends with blue miracle- you will not regret.

See you soon, dear readers!

13 Jun 2015

Cornflowers- not flashy flowers, but they have a natural charm and are well suited for creating natural style flower beds.

Cornflowers are distributed throughout the world, in Russia the name of the flower is given by the name Vasily, which means “royal” because of the crown-like marginal flowers. The Latin name of this flower is Centaurea, which means “centaur”, since according to Greek legend the centaur Chiron healed his wounds with these flowers.

The genus Centaurea contains up to 500 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants from the Asteraceae family. In cornflowers, the flowers are basket-shaped inflorescences, in the middle of which there are small tubular flowers, and on the outer edge there are larger funnel-shaped flowers. The color of cornflower flowers can be blue, light blue, pink, lilac, yellow and white.

In ancient times, cornflowers were weeds for peasants, since the fields of rye were full of blue lights. This annual blue cornflower (Centaureacyanus) or field, and among the people it was called cherlok, voloshka, blavat, weasel, blue, sinyushnitsa, blue flower.

Blue cornflower blooms from June until autumn frosts. It has a thin, strong, erect stem, up to 70 cm high, branching at the top. The inflorescences, 2.5-4 cm in diameter, are bright blue around the edge and dark blue in the center. There are varieties with white, pink, purple, red and even bicolor flowers.

Previously, bright blue paint was obtained from the juice of the inner dark blue small tubular flowers, which are located in the center of the basket, and pale blue paint was obtained from the blue marginal flowers.

After flowering, cornflowers ripen seeds with a fluffy tuft, so they easily scatter over long distances and multiply like a weed. Cornflowers have minimal requirements for growing conditions and grow well in dry and damp places, but bloom profusely only in open sunny places.

Cornflowers look great alone, as well as in a group with other bright summer flowers with poppies, daisies, esoltia, and calendula. Seeds low-growing varieties cornflowers are included in the Moorish lawn mixture, which creates a vibrant lawn of wildflowers.

Annual cornflowers They are very unpretentious, bloom for a long time from June to September, so gardeners are happy to decorate their flower beds with cornflowers. Annual cornflowers are propagated by seeds; they are sown directly into the ground in April - late May; they can also be sown before winter. Shoots appear in a week, and after some time the seedlings are thinned out leaving a distance of 10-12 cm between plants.

Perennial cornflowers require minimal care Moreover, these plants are long-lived, living up to 10 years or more without replanting. However, some types of perennial cornflowers grow quickly due to their creeping rhizomes, suppressing neighboring plants. But there are perennial cornflowers with a tap root; they are less aggressive and slowly spread in breadth, so they reproduce mainly by seeds.

Meadow cornflower (Centaureajacea) can often be found on forest edges and clearings. This plant is up to 80 cm high with strong, erect stems, branched at the top. At the tops of the stems, single large inflorescences-baskets with lilac-pink and white flowers are formed. The stems and leaves of the plant are covered with pile, like a cobweb, so they appear bluish. Meadow cornflower blooms from mid-summer until frost; it is propagated by seeds.

Mountain cornflower (Centaureamontana) grows in meadows in the mountainous regions of the Pyrenees, Alps and Balkans. This cornflower looks spectacular in gardens, but quickly grows into a dense clump, thanks to its highly branching rhizome. Slightly branched shoots reach a height of 60 cm. Large inflorescences up to 6 cm in diameter are blue-violet, but there are varieties with white, pink and purple flowers. This species blooms profusely in May-June.

Mountain cornflower is propagated by seeds, sowing before winter or in early spring, as well as dividing the bush. Mountain cornflower is winter-hardy and can withstand spring frosts.

Cornflower soft (Centaureamollis) its homeland is the Carpathians, where this flower adorns the meadows. Soft cornflower has a long creeping rhizome, so it grows quickly, forming dense thickets. Thin, low shoots up to 30-35 cm in length end in single blue inflorescences. It blooms all summer, is unpretentious and disease resistant. Easily propagated by cuttings of rhizomes and seeds.

Fisher's cornflower (Centaureafischeru) comes from the Caucasus, it has unusual large inflorescences reaching 9 cm in diameter, white or lilac pink. Erect shoots 30-50 cm high have silvery pubescence. Blooms from June to August.

Cornflower large-headed forms tall bush up to 120 cm with large cones opening into bright yellow inflorescences-baskets. Blooms from July to mid-August. Propagated by seeds, does not tolerate bush division. This tall cornflower is best placed in the background in flower beds.

Growing cornflowers

All cornflowers are light-loving plants, so they bloom well only in sunny places, under trees; even with slight shading or dense planting, they grow worse.

The soil for growing cornflowers must be well prepared, filled with humus, and have a neutral reaction.

Most cornflowers prefer moderate moisture; these flowers are watered only when necessary during periods of drought. The rest of caring for cornflowers consists of weeding and loosening. Complex feeding mineral fertilizer This is done regularly only for cut flowers.

Cornflowers bloom in June - July. In the first year, perennial species have not yet gained enough strength to bloom profusely, but they are already forming a lush bush of leaves. Faded shoots are cut off at the level of the leaf rosette. The basal leaves of cornflowers go green under the snow.

Cornflower is an ornamental plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. Cornflower inflorescences are very diverse - there are many shapes and colors.

The plant is widely known in Europe, Asia and America. There are more than 500 varieties of the flower.

Cornflower tolerates extreme cold and scorching sun well. Long flowering, which is usually observed from July to September, can be achieved with abundant watering and fertilizing.

It is advisable to plant flowers while maintaining a distance of 20–30 centimeters.

The history of cornflower

Cornflower has been known since ancient times; many myths and legends are associated with it. A wreath of beautiful blue flowers was even found in the tomb of Tutankhamun.

In legends Ancient Greece Cornflower is mentioned as a healing agent, the juice of which was used to treat the centaur Chiron’s terrible wounds. Centaurea cuanus is the scientific name of the plant, the literal translation of which is centaur flower.

The Russian name is associated with a legend telling about Vasily, a young man who was transformed by a mermaid into a beautiful blue flower.

Cornflower was the favorite flower of the world famous fabulist Krylov.

Varieties of cornflowers

There are several types of cornflowers:

mountain - height does not exceed 40 cm, blooms in summer (June - July) with blue flowers;
whitened - the name is given due to the original color of the leaves (with a white edge below). The flowers have pink color, with a white center. Tall species, reaching 80 centimeters;
large-headed - a species whose height exceeds 1 meter, has huge buds and spectacular yellow flowers;
beautiful cornflower - soft pink flowers framed by grayish-white leaves. Height does not exceed 40 cm;
rough - grows up to 1 meter, blooms with beautiful crimson-red flowers;
beautiful cornflower - grows only up to 20 cm, known for its round flowers, with a pinkish-purple hue.

Use in folk medicine

Cornflower inflorescences are a storehouse of healing components. The plant is effective in the fight against many ailments:

eliminates itching due to eczema;
quickly helps to cope with the symptoms of diathesis;
relieves jaundice;
perfectly relieves puffiness;
eliminates rheumatic pain;
has a pronounced choleretic and diuretic effect;
is an excellent remedy for relieving pain and inflammation;
used in the treatment of gynecological diseases.

Before using infusions and decoctions prepared from cornflower, consult a doctor.

Disembarkation and care

To propagate perennial cornflowers, seeds are used, which are planted in the spring (April - May) in soil enriched with nutrients.

Plant propagation is also possible by division. The bush, previously selected for division, is dug up, an indentation (10 cm) is made from the root and the shoots are cut off.

The roots are thoroughly washed and cut into 2-3 sections; daughter buds must be present in each of them.

Abundant and lush flowering can be achieved by fertilizing, which is done before flowering begins. To collect the seeds, you need to wait until the petals wither and the core of the inflorescence acquires a dark shade.

Dried inflorescences are picked and stored in a dark, dry place for 2–3 weeks, then the seeds are shaken out of the head and planted in the ground in the spring.

Cornflower is an unpretentious plant, requiring only loosening the soil and regular watering.

Decoration of flower beds

Cornflowers in flower beds go well with plants that bloom at the same time as them, such as poppy or calendula.

They form a wonderful colorful meadow. The shrubs available on the site will be perfectly shaded by tall species of cornflower, and for decoration alpine slides On the contrary, low-growing varieties are suitable.

IN landscape design used for landscaping slopes. Plants located in a flower bed around cornflowers should be restrained, discreet shades.

Garden cornflower, beautifully called the blue flower of the centaur (Centaurea cyanus) in Latin, is surrounded by many legends, despite its prevalence. It can be found everywhere in any region of Europe. It is unpretentious in content, but has a bright appearance blue flower Gives flower beds and lawns a wonderful look. IN wildlife cornflower grows mainly on sandy, semi-sandy and rocky soils. It is believed that its homeland is southern Europe, but over time (and not without the help of people) this flower spread to other regions. People know cornflower both as a weed and as an ornamental and medicinal plant.

A clearing with cornflowers of different varieties.

The bright petals of cornflower are actually individual flowers collected in a large inflorescence. Each of them consists of only one petal. The color of cornflower is not only blue, but also burgundy, yellow, and white. The flower can grow over a meter in height.

Cornflowers are distinguished by a wide variety of not only appearance, but also life expectancy. Most often this annual flower, but its biennial and perennial forms are found. It grows equally easily both in the wild and on summer cottages. Very often it is a weed growing in rye fields. May be dangerous to horses.

Growing conditions

Planting and caring for a plant is not a complicated procedure. If you stick to simple rules, you can achieve a long and abundant flowering cornflower, both in house flower beds and summer cottages.

Reproduction

Propagating cornflower by seeds is the most popular method.

Cornflowers can be grown from seeds or cuttings. The first method is suitable for all types of plants, the second - only for biennial and perennial cornflowers. Seeds of annuals are planted in the soil in early spring, seeds of perennials in the fall; they overwinter well under the snow. Separation of roots or cuttings should be carried out in late August - early September. Annual forms of cornflowers do not reproduce by cuttings.

Landing place

Cornflower grows best in a sunny location.

The best place to plant cornflowers is spacious sunny flower bed. A small shadow from the trees may fall on it, but not all day. Plant cornflower in a pot as indoor plant irrational, they look much better on the street. Flowers should not be planted too close to each other to ensure that all plants receive enough sunlight.

Watering and soil

Cornflowers need to be watered only in very dry summers. Flowers decreasing in size and drying leaves are a clear signal that there is not enough moisture. If it rains regularly, then the flowers have enough moisture. Its excess in the soil is much more harmful than its deficiency.

Cornflowers do not need abundant watering, best option— automatic sprinkler.

You can install automatic sprayers and turn them on a short time every day. If the summer is wet and the soil is constantly waterlogged, it is necessary to ensure drainage by adding a small amount of small pebbles to the soil.

The soil itself should be light enough to chemical reaction– neutral. Sandy loam is ideal. Acidic soils are treated with limestone. The procedure is carried out in the fall, and annual cornflowers are planted in the spring. IN clay soils add sand.

Fertilizer

Despite their unpretentiousness, cornflowers still need feeding. A universal fertilizer, which can be bought at gardening stores, is suitable for this. Feeding is done once or twice a month, for perennial forms - additionally in late autumn to make it easier for them to winter.

Before sowing seeds, the soil must be fertilized.

Trimming

Separately, it is worth mentioning about pruning flowers - this procedure allows you to give cornflowers a neat appearance, as well as prevent their uncontrolled reproduction. It is carried out only in perennial species. Top pruning is cutting off faded inflorescences, so that the plant does not scatter seeds around itself, turning into a weed. Does not harm the flower.

Another type - bottom pruning - is pruning at a level of 10 cm from the soil surface. Used for serious plant diseases. This procedure should not be abused - the cut flower may die. Trimming a flower bed in order to trim all the flowers to a certain level may not give the expected result, but will only worsen its appearance. Therefore, you need to trim each plant separately, if necessary, or allow the flowers to grow as they please.

It is better to remove faded buds and dried leaves.

Cornflower as medicine and seasoning

Garden cornflower is attractive not only for its appearance; its leaves are often used in folk medicine and in cooking.

Cornflower leaves can be an excellent seasoning for home pickling; they are also used for preparing meat products and some soups. The taste and smell of cornflower leaves resemble a mixture of mint, cloves and lemon, giving dishes a sweetish-spicy taste.
In folk medicine, a decoction of leaves and stems with blue cornflower flowers is widely used. They are used as a diuretic and choleretic agent, as part of medicinal mixtures for the treatment of cough.
Cornflower is included in the stomach mixture and some soothing teas. Sometimes it is used for amenorrhea to normalize the cycle.
Various masks based on cornflower infusions and decoctions have been used in cosmetology. They have a cleansing and rejuvenating effect on the skin of the face, help fight spider veins, and prevent the appearance of acne.
Modern companies producing cosmetic products often use a decoction of blue cornflower flowers as part of facial washes and creams.

In addition, cornflower, both garden and wild, is an excellent honey plant. Cornflower honey has a beneficial effect on the condition of the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract, has a sedative effect, and treats colds.

Diseases and pests

Spider mites settle on back side cornflower leaves.

Among the pests, cornflowers can be attacked by aphids and spider mite. Insecticidal preparations are used for extermination. It is advisable to treat not only cornflowers with them, but also neighboring flower beds, since insects can attack healthy plants.

To combat fungi, fungicidal preparations are used - a solution is prepared and the plant is sprayed with it. Be sure to drain the soil to reduce its moisture. It is sometimes recommended to use ash or cow dung as a treatment for cornflowers, but decorative flower bed such medications are not always appropriate.

Perennial cornflowers that are damaged by pests, dried out or diseased are usually not treated, but the affected area is cut off and burned. On next year The plant looks quite healthy and is blooming.

Cornflower blue(lat. Centaurea cyanus) - one- or biennial herbaceous meadow plant of the Asteraceae, or Asteraceae (Asteraceae) family ( Asteraceae). This plant is known, perhaps, to absolutely everyone. Due to its popularity, blue cornflower has not a single popular name: voloshka, blueflower, patchwork, blavat, cyanosis, cyanosis, blues. In literature and folk art there are many songs and poems about blue cornflower. Some peoples considered this plant magical. And now blue cornflower evokes conflicting feelings: some curse it as a weed, others glorify its healer.

Blue cornflower is widespread throughout Europe, in the European part of Russia, in the Caucasus, and is slightly less common in Far East and Central Asia. For growth, it prefers fields with crops of spring and winter crops (in particular, it weeds the crops of wheat, rye and flax), forage grasses, it can also be found on abandoned arable lands, along roads, in weedy places. Blue cornflower is a typical seed weed.

Cornflower blue description

The root of blue cornflower is thin and taprooted. The stem is branched, erect, rough, about 80 cm high. The basal leaves are obovate-lanceolate, with petioles. Stem leaves are sessile, lanceolate or linear. The inflorescence is an ovoid basket (head), on a long stalk, located one at a time at the tops of the stems and branches. Flower color can vary from blue to lilac-purple. Unlike flowers on the stem, flowers on the branches are slightly smaller in size. The marginal flowers in the inflorescences are funnel-shaped, sterile, bright blue. They serve to attract the attention of insects. The middle flowers are bisexual, tubular, purple, but in rare cases they are white. Flowering period from June to late autumn. The fruit is a slightly pubescent gray achene with a tuft. The achene is oblong, slightly compressed laterally, with a tuft length of 5.5-8 mm (without tuft up to 5.5 mm), and width up to 2 mm. The fruits ripen in August.

Blue cornflower reproduces only by seeds. One plant can produce from 700 to 7000 seeds. Seeds in a dry state are very tenacious, they can remain viable for up to 10 years, but the seeds can remain in the soil for no more than three years. Seeds germinate from a depth of 2-4 cm; when planted deeper into the soil, they disappear. In its natural environment, cornflower develops as both a spring and winter plant. The spring form appears in the spring and infests spring crops. Winter or overwintering shoots, respectively, appear in the fall, forming rosettes of leaves, and in this form overwinter along with winter crops cereal crops. By spring, these plants grow large and branchy and produce a particularly large harvest. Due to the uneven ripening of seeds, this weed can clog both the soil and the crop, getting into the grain during harvesting.

Blue cornflower control measures

If you discard the beautiful appearance plants, then we will see a weed that can significantly reduce the yield of rye if it is heavily clogged or almost completely kill the crops of flax and other crops. Measures to combat this plant should first of all include correct crop rotation, mass weeding of spring and winter crops, and, of course, thorough cleaning of the seeds.

Cornflower blue use

Blue cornflower is an excellent honey plant. His honey has pleasant aroma and a bitter aftertaste. This marvelous plant is also used for dyeing wool. With special processing of flowers, blue paint is obtained. This plant is used in winemaking to color champagne and vermouth; cornflower gives them a pinkish tint.

Since ancient times, cornflower was considered healing plant, even Aristotle wrote about this. The marginal flowers are used for medicinal purposes and should be collected during flowering. The workpieces need to be dried in the usual way, in the shade and store raw materials in paper bags for no more than 1 year.

Blue cornflower has diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, diaphoretic, and bactericidal properties. Infusions are used for chronic diseases of the kidneys, urinary tract, inflammatory processes, and edema. Tinctures are also an excellent choleretic agent; they are used for diseases of the liver and biliary tract. Cornflower has a beneficial effect on digestion and increases appetite. As part of gastric preparations, they are recommended for intestinal diseases. Externally, blue cornflower is used in the form of lotions for the treatment of eye diseases (barley, conjunctivitis). Blue cornflower in the form of tincture calms nervous system, slows the heartbeat, relieves headache. Even toothache may subside when rinsing. Cornflower will also help with skin diseases (furunculosis, trophic ulcers, eczema, warts). In such cases, it should be applied as compresses.

However, blue cornflower has contraindications. Medicines based on it should not be taken long time, since the plant is considered slightly toxic and can accumulate in the body. Consumption during pregnancy is prohibited. Before using blue cornflower for medicinal purposes, you should definitely consult a doctor.