Common Name: Blue Bottle, Bachelor Buttons, Blue-blow, Blue Cap and also Hurtsickle because its tough stems blunted the edges of the farmer's sickle as he reaped the corn. The nickname "cornflower" comes from the fact that the plant grows wild in the grain fields of southern Europe. When Napoleon forced Queen Louise of Prussia from Berlin, she hid her children in a cornfield and kept them entertained and quiet by weaving wreaths of cornflowers. One of her children, Wilheim, later became the emperor of Germany. Remembering his mother's bravery, he made the cornflower a national emblem of unity. It is said to have arrived in America between 1700 and 1750.

Parts Used: Flowers, stem, leaves.

Description: Leaves are narrow and fairly long, arranged alternately on stem. The fuzzy hairs on this plant's leaves make the foliage appear gray-green. The beautiful blue flowers make a showy backdrop for smaller plants. It flowers from late spring into July. Remove blossoms as they finish blooming to promote the production of new flowers. I toss them into the garden to reseed. Leave some blossoms on to reseed. Whole plant is at first grayish and hairy looking. Leaves linear and generally entire, and somewhat wooly. At maturity, it has an erect growth form with simple or branched stems. Flower heads are long-stalked with showy blue flowers. Flowers are 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Bracts are unequal with the outer one being dark margined and fringed and the inner one nearly entire. Flowers are solitary and terminal on main stems and branches.

Habitat: Sunny fields. Cornflower prefers full sun, but will tolerate partial shade.

Cultivation: Grows in most zones. Cornflower is adaptable to many soils and conditions, but prefers alkaline soil with average to dry conditions. It thrives in rich garden soil, but avoid clay. Depending upon the variety, plants will grow to between 1 and 3 feet tall and are most effective when massed in beds and borders for color. Bachelor buttons are a cutting garden favorite, and they are one of the easiest flowers to dry for everlasting arrangements. Resistant to insect decimation.

Grows With: Most garden flowers.

Propagation and Reproduction: It is a self-seeding annual. Bachelor buttons are easy to grow from seeds outdoors. Sow in spring, 1 to 2 weeks before the last expected frost, for early summer blooms. They can also be sown in fall in mild climates for early spring blooms. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart. The seeds need complete darkness to germinate, so make sure they are well covered. Germination takes 1 to 2 weeks. When seedlings are 1 to 2 inches tall, thin them to 6 to 8 inches apart. The first blooms appear 10 to 12 weeks after planting, and last for about a month. Successive plantings can extend the bloom period. Large seedlings transplant well, before flowering.

Constituents: Tonic, stimulant and emmenagogue properties.

Uses: Juices from the stems of this plant are used externally to treat wounds and cuts, and is said to knit wounds together quickly. The dried leaves are given to assist those that are bruised by a fall or have broken a vein. Cornflower blends well with Plantain, Horsetail or Comfrey in tea form. The seed or leaves taken in wine was thought to be good against the plague and all infectious diseases and in pestilential fevers. The juice dropped into the eyes is reputed to take away heat and inflammation. The flowers are occasionally used for their tonic and stimulant properties, but the Blessed Thistle (Carbenia benedicta) which has similar properties is more popular with today's herbalists. The Cornflower gives an infusion a bluish color. Its main uses are in the treatment of dyspepsia and as an eye wash.

Miscellaneous: Cornflower is said to promote and enhance psychic sight, as well as normal eyesight. Under the dominion of Saturn, its energy cold, dry and binding. Legend has it that a remedy against the poison of the scorpion and resists all venoms and poison.

Caution: In GB Cornflower is now classified as Endangered. It receives general protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Cornflower poses a slight possibility of an allergic reaction.

Flower Essence:  Invites connection to and advocacy for Mother Earth wherever you may be, and can help ease missing a physical place. Enhances circulatory system; adds sparkle and creativity to the body. Peels layers off the emotional heart, to return to trust and innocence. Softens layers of emotional protection; aids capacity to receive love, affection from others.  Good in abuse cases.