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Centaurea Montana - L.

Common Name Mountain Cornflower, Perennial cornflower, Mountain Bluet
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 3-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Mountain woodland margins and meadows[9].
Range Europe.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Centaurea Montana Mountain Cornflower, Perennial cornflower,  Mountain Bluet


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Centaurea_montana_Sturm25.jpg
Centaurea Montana Mountain Cornflower, Perennial cornflower,  Mountain Bluet
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Nova

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Blue. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late spring. Form: Irregular or sprawling.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Centaurea Montana is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Ground Cover;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antitussive  Astringent  Diuretic  Emmenagogue  Ophthalmic  Purgative  Tonic

Mountain cornflower is seldom used in modern herbalism, though it does still have a reputation in parts of Europe as a wash for tired eyes[268]. It is considered to be most effective on blue eyes, great plantain (Plantago majus) being used for brown eyes[268]. The dried flowers are antitussive, astringent, weakly diuretic, emmenagogue, ophthalmic, very mildly purgative and tonic[9]. An infusion can be used as a treatment for dropsy, constipation, as a mouthwash for bleeding gums and as an eye bath for conjunctivitis[9].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Can be used as a ground cover plant in a sunny position[188, 208].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Ground cover

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Massing, Specimen. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1, 200]. Prefers a moist well-drained fertile soil and a sunny position[200]. Tolerates dry, low fertility and alkaline soils[200]. Plants are hardy to at least -20°c[187]. A very ornamental plant[1], there are some named varieties[187]. The plants have creeping rhizomes and form spreading patches[187]. A good bee plant[108]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233]. Special Features: Attractive foliage, Invasive, Naturalizing, Suitable for cut flowers.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow March in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in August in a greenhouse, overwintered under cover, and planted out in spring. Division in autumn. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or following spring. This should be done at least once every three years in order to maintain the plants vigour. Basal cuttings in spring. Harvest the shoots when they are about 5 - 10cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

EUROPE: Finland, United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland (south), Slovakia, Estonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Centaurea acaulis Perennial0.0 -  LMHNDM001
Centaurea calcitrapaCommon Star Thistle, Red star-thistleBiennial0.6 0-0  LMHNDM11 
Centaurea chamaerhaponticum  0.0 -  LMHNDM20 
Centaurea cyanusCornflower, Garden cornflower, Blue Bottle, CornflowerAnnual1.0 0-0 FLMHNDM222
Centaurea depressaIranian knapweedAnnual/Perennial0.3 6-9  LMHNDM20 
Centaurea ibericaIberian Star Thistle, Iberian knapweedBiennial0.9 5-9  LMHNDM120
Centaurea jaceaBrown KnapweedPerennial0.6 5-9  LMHNDM110
Centaurea melitensisMaltese Star ThistleAnnual0.5 6-9  LMHNDM010
Centaurea montanaMountain Cornflower, Perennial cornflower, Mountain BluetPerennial0.5 3-9 FLMHNDM023
Centaurea nigraBlack Knapweed, Lesser knapweedPerennial0.6 4-8  LMHNDM120
Centaurea raphanina Perennial0.0 -  LMHNDM10 
Centaurea scabiosaGreater KnapweedPerennial0.9 4-8  LMHNDM02 
Centaurea solstitialisSt. Barnaby's Thistle, Yellow star-thistleAnnual/Biennial0.6 5-9  LMHNDM110

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

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Subject : Centaurea Montana  
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