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Amberboa (Sweet Sultan) & Centaurea (Cornflowers)

Cornflowers (Centaurea spp.) are ornamental annuals or perennials with usually rich blue to lilac, yellow or cream flowers which appear in masses throughout summer and attract numerous bees and butterflies with their seducing nectar. Sweet Sultans (Amberboa spp., including Volutaria spp.) are native from the Mediterranean through Asia and have a very similar habit. All are ideal for the rock garden and will thrive in any well drained soil in a sunny position. They are easily grown and will readily self-sow in a suitable spot.
Sow from autumn to early summer in any rich, well drained soil. Keep pots outside in a proteced, sunny spot. Transplant seedlings on their fourth pair of leaves.
All are USDA Climate Zone 6, if not stated differently.
20 seeds per package, if not stated differently.
Articles
Amberboa muricata (Desert Star Sweet Sultan)

Amberboa muricata (Desert Star Sweet Sultan)

80 (110)cm, Desert Star Sweet Sultan (syn. Volutaria muricata) is a floriferous annual species from the western Mediterranean. It produces masses of pale pink and slightly fragrant flowers. Easily grown in any rich, well drained soil in a sunny spot. Will selfsow under appropriate conditions. Some seed merchants offer this species under Amberboa moschata, which indeed is a different species. VI-VIII.
20 seeds per package.

price (plus Shipping Costs)
seed package0594 € 2,99
Centaurea aegialophila (Dwarf Cyprus Cornflower)

Centaurea aegialophila (Dwarf Cyprus Cornflower)

12cm, Dwarf Cyprus Cornflower is a showy dwarf perennial which is virtually unknown in cultivation. Centaurea aegialophila is native of chalk soils in coastal areas on Cyprus and in southern Turkey. It has a flat basal rosette of dark green leaves and rose flower heads which are hold at or just above ground level. For any rich, well drained substrate in pots. It is not winter hardy, thus in winter carefully water plants and keep them in full sun and at a minimum of some 7°C. Plants are rather reluctant in setting seeds, only 2 seed packages are available. V-VI.
10 seeds per package.

price (plus Shipping Costs)
seed package6285 € 7,99
Centaurea cyanus (Common Blue Cornflower)

Centaurea cyanus (Common Blue Cornflower)

50 (80)cm, Common Blue Cornflower was native of Asia Minor in prehistoric times and has been widespread during human setteling across Europe. Today it is has become rarer for intensive crop field cultivation methods. A showy annual with rich blue (sometimes white or rose) flowers. Easily grown in any rich, well drained soil in a sunny spot. Will readily selfsow under appropriate conditions. VI-VIII.
20 seeds per package.

price (plus Shipping Costs)
seed package8171 € 0,99*
seed package
* This price is valid if a single item is ordered only. The shop will automatically assign discounts on bulk purchases. If several packages are ordered from this species, they will be merged into a single package. Please refer to our General Terms of Business.
Centaurea jacea (Brown Knapweed)

Centaurea jacea (Brown Knapweed)

25 (80)cm, Brown Knapweed is a perennial knapweeg with scale-like tan to brown bracts beneath the light purple to rose flowers. The branches have egg shaped or lanceolate, undivided leaves. European native from dry fields, meadows and roadsides in Scandinavia, Atlantic and Central Europe, North Italy, West Russia and the Balkans. For full sun to partial shade, in any well drained soil. VI-IX.
20 seeds per package.

price (plus Shipping Costs)
seed package 2580 € 4,99
Centaurea macrocephala (Yellow Bighead Knapweed)

Centaurea macrocephala (Yellow Bighead Knapweed)

100 (120)cm, Yellow Bighead Knapweed is a showy perennial species with upright stalks densely covered with yellowish green leaves and topped by a single large bright yellow flower head. Native of high elevation grasslands and subalpine meadows from Armenia to Romania. Easily cultivated in any rich, well drained soil in a sunny spot. VI-VIII.
20 seeds per package.

price (plus Shipping Costs)
seed package 4803 € 4,99
Centaurea montana (Mountain Corn Flower)

Centaurea montana (Mountain Corn Flower)

30 (50)cm, Mountain Corn Flower is a very variable species from sunny mountainous meadows across Europe with hairy, grayish, lance shaped leaves and large lilac blue flowers with a purplish centre. Pleasantly strong honey fragrance. Plants from Scandinavia grow taller and have longer, narrow ovate leaves in comparison to populations from Central Europe. V-VIII.
20 seeds per package.

price (plus Shipping Costs)
seed package 2581 € 2,99
seed package (ex Frescati, Stockholm, Sweden)6348 € 3,99
seed package (ex Frescati, Stockholm, Sweden)
(ex Frescati, Stockholm, Sweden)
Centaurea montana f. stenophylla (Vosges Mountain Corn Flower)

Centaurea montana f. stenophylla (Vosges Mountain Corn Flower)

25 (40)cm, Vosges Mountain Corn Flower is a rare, smaller form from sunny, steep grassy slopes in the Vosges (France) with hairy, grayish-green, lance shaped leaves and lilac blue flowers with a purplish centre. Pleasantly strong honey fragrance. Easily cultivated in any rich, well drained soil in full sun. VI-VIII.
20 seeds per package.

price (plus Shipping Costs)
seed package 4648 € 4,99
Centaurea nigra ssp. nemoralis

Centaurea nigra ssp. nemoralis

50 (70)cm, ornamental subspecies with deep purple flowers. For full sun to partial shade, in any well drained soil. VI-VIII.
20 seeds per package.

price (plus Shipping Costs)
seed package 2582 € 3,99
Centaurea nigrescens (Tyrol Knapweed)

Centaurea nigrescens (Tyrol Knapweed)

60 (90)cm, Tyrol Knapweed or Vochin Knapweed is an ornamental species with deep purple flowers. For full sun to partial shade, in any well drained soil. VI-VIII.
20 seeds per package.

price (plus Shipping Costs)
seed package 2583 € 3,99
Centaurea phrygia ssp. pseudophrygia

Centaurea phrygia ssp. pseudophrygia

60 (85)cm, light purple pink cornflowers on loose branches. For a sunny site in any rich, well drained soil. VI-VII.
20 seeds per package.

price (plus Shipping Costs)
seed package 2584 € 3,99
Centaurea scabiosa (Great Knapweed)

Centaurea scabiosa (Great Knapweed)

45 (70)cm, Great Knapweed has nice purple, large Scabiosa like flowers. Full sun to partial shade in any well drained soil. VII-VIII.
20 seeds per package.

price (plus Shipping Costs)
seed package 2588 € 4,99
Centaurea uniflora ssp. nervosa (Singleflower Knapweed)

Centaurea uniflora ssp. nervosa (Singleflower Knapweed)

30 (50)cm, Singleflower Knapweed is a perennial species with showy, quite large single, pale lilac flower heads on upright stems above lanceolate leaves. Native of montane areas in Southern Europe. Easily cultivated in any rich, well drained soil in a sunny spot. VI-VII.
20 seeds per package.

price (plus Shipping Costs)
seed package 4804 € 4,99