COOL AS A CORNFLOWER

THE DEETS
This pretty little flower is supposedly named after Centaurs, Greek mythological creatures that were half man and half horse - not sure we’re getting the link here but nonetheless, exciting! It did not always have flower status, and formerly was considered a weed. But its glory shone through and is now a popular, easy to grow garden flower as well as being wonderfully dynamic in arrangements. There is something wonderfully vintage and dreamy about the cornflower, especially the bright violet blue ones. In fact, the cornflower is one of the only truly blue flowers, it comes as nature first intended. It is also edible and looks wicked when added to salads.

BACK TO THE ROOTS
This annual flowering plant belongs to the Asteraceae family who come from Europe. This old timer has been present in the British Isles since the Iron Age, once painting corn fields blue as it grew in abundance. Sadly, through the use of pesticides it has become endangered and is considered rare in the wild. However, in gardens, for horticultural uses and your kitchen table, it grows quite happily.

GREEN SKILLS
A summer shower, this wild flower evokes a sense of nostalgia, a bygone era of hedgerows, warm rays and flower pressing. Urban life may well have crushed the dream but we can create little accents of a wild country meadow in our homes by using cornflower in wild jam jar arrangements. Team with foliage and one or two big blooms such as the garden rose or group together simply on their own. Cornflower also come in purple, red, pink and white, so will generally work with most colour schemes. Line your kitchen table with different sized jars filled with these lively pops of colour, keep the cornflower dancing high, as cutting too short will lose its unique character.

GROW
Sowed in Spring the cornflower will be bouncing under the sun’s rays by June but you can buy as a cut flower from around April. If you want us to do the hard work then our "In Bloom" bouquets will be featuring the cornflower over the next few months.