An artistic description of a cornflower. Cornflower flower photo, description, application, varieties. Known varieties of cornflowers and their description

23.11.2019

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

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

Cornflower perfectly tolerates severe cold and the scorching sun. Long flowering, which usually occurs from July to September, can be achieved with abundant watering and top dressing.

Planting flowers is desirable to produce, keeping a distance of 20-30 centimeters.

History of the 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 Tutankhamun's tomb.

In the legends of ancient Greece, cornflower is mentioned as a healing agent, the juice of which the centaur Chiron treated his 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 that tells about Vasily, a young man who was turned into a beautiful blue flower by a mermaid.

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 are pink in color with a white centre. Tall species, reaching 80 centimeters;
large-headed - a species whose height exceeds 1 meter, has huge buds and spectacular yellow flowers;
cornflower is beautiful - flowers of a pale pink hue frame grayish-white leaves. Height does not exceed 40 cm;
rough - grows up to 1 meter, blooms with beautiful purple-red flowers;
beautiful cornflower - grows only up to 20 cm, known for round flowers, with a pinkish-purple hue.

Use in traditional medicine

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

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

Before using infusions and decoctions prepared from cornflower, a doctor's consultation is required.

Disembarkation and care

For propagation of perennial cornflowers, seeds are used, which are planted in spring (April - May), in soil enriched with nutrients.

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

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

Abundant and lush flowering can be achieved by feeding, which is done before flowering. To collect seeds, you must wait until the petals wither and the core of the inflorescence becomes dark.

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

Cornflower is an unpretentious plant that needs only loosening the soil and regular watering.

Flowerbed decoration

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 motley meadow. The shrub available on the site will be perfectly shaded by tall types of cornflower, and for the design of alpine slides, on the contrary, undersized varieties are suitable.

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

Centaurea cyanus L.

Cornflower Centaurea is a genus of herbs in the Asteraceae family. In Russia, it grows almost throughout the country, the most common species are blue cornflower and meadow cornflower, both types of cornflowers are medicinal plants.

Blue cornflower is found in all grain crops in our fields - among spring and winter crops of wheat and rye, grows along the edges of fields, along roads, in wastelands. A small number of cornflowers in the fields, according to research, increases the yield of grain crops. This is an annual or biennial plant with a straight branched stem up to 50 - 80 cm high.

There are many legends about the bright blue color of field cornflowers. An ancient Greek legend tells how one day heavy ears of rye turned to the blue sky with a complaint that they could not see it when they bowed under the weight of the grains. The sky promised that it would descend to them, and it descended to them, and when it rose again, the pieces of the sky that remained among the ears of rye turned into blue flowers, over which now they bend and look at them, rustling and whispering, ears of bread.

Cornflower blue, probably spread along with rye and wheat, and in ancient times was brought to Central Europe from the Mediterranean countries.

Let's return to the description of the blue cornflower. The lower leaves of the cornflower are petiolate, pinnately lobed, higher along the stem are sessile, linear. The leaves are covered with hairs.

The flowers are collected in single baskets located at the ends of the stems and branches. Marginal flowers in baskets - funnel-shaped, enlarged blue, sometimes blue or white, barren. The inner flowers are blue-violet, tubular, bisexual, form fruits - oblong cylindrical achenes 3 ÷ 5 mm long, gray in color with a thick reddish tuft, with which they spread with gusts of wind.

Blue cornflower blooms in June - July, about 6000 seeds are formed on one plant. In folk medicine, marginal asexual flowers are used for medicinal purposes.

Cornflower flowers contain flavonoids, bitter glycosides, carotene, ascorbic acid, dyes. They are harvested by hand when cornflowers are in full bloom, trying not to get inside, tubular flowers, which in some cases degrade the quality of raw materials.

Flowers are dried, spreading in a thin layer, protecting from bright light, stored in a dark place. Dried flowers are bright blue, odorless with a bitter astringent taste.

The healing properties of blue cornflower have been known since ancient times. The therapeutic effect of cornflower petals is due to the presence of tannins, mucous, resinous substances, organic acids, trace elements in them. Ancient manuscripts describe the treatment of deep wounds with crushed cornflower seeds, the removal of warts.

The scientific name of the blue cornflower Centaurea was given by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in honor of the mythical centaur Chiron, who widely used medicinal herbs, and cornflower juice healed his wounds and the wounds of the heroes of his time.

The specific name cyanuc is derived from the Greek word kyanos - dark blue, indicating the color of the flowers. Another of the legends of Ancient Rome tells about the young handsome Cyanus, who was very fond of the blue color. He died unexpectedly, he was found in the middle of a grain field. The goddess Flora, very revered by the young man during her lifetime, turned him into a blue cornflower, since then both the flower and the color have been called cyanus - blue.

And the Russian name of the genus cornflower - from the Greek word basilikon means royal potion in translation, this name is also associated with the popular name Vasily among the people.

Cornflower blue application

In folk medicine, an infusion or tea from the marginal flowers of the cornflower inflorescence is used for chronic diseases of the kidneys, bladder, spasms, edema, and dropsy.

Cornflower blue finds use as a good choleretic agent for diseases of the liver, biliary tract, and jaundice; use an infusion of cornflower to stimulate appetite and improve digestion.

Cornflower blue is used as a diaphoretic, antipyretic, bactericidal remedy for fevers, colds, disorders of the nervous system, headaches, eye diseases, skin irritations.

Infusion of blue cornflower flowers:

One tsp flowers pour 1 cup boiling water, leave for 30 minutes. Drink 1/4 cup 3-4 times a day 20 minutes before meals.

An infusion of blue cornflower calms the nervous system, has a good effect on the cardiovascular system, and is used for uterine bleeding.

For conjunctivitis, barley, use an infusion of flowers in the form of lotions to wash the eyes with inflammation.

To improve hair growth:

One st. l. inflorescences-baskets of cornflower pour 200 ml of boiling water, add 200 ml of vinegar, leave for 30 minutes, cool, strain. Rub into the hair of the head, use for washing the head - rinsing the hair, stimulates hair growth.

In scientific medicine, cornflower is used in the treatment of the liver, gastrointestinal tract in case of metabolic disorders.

Cornflower flowers, as a cleanser, are part of many complex herbal preparations.

Collections of medicinal herbs with cornflower application

For diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract , especially with edema of renal and cardiac origin:

cornflower flowers - 3 parts
angelica root - 3

One table. l. mix pour 2 cups of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes. Take 3-4 times a day for 1/4 cup as a diuretic. Store the infusion in the refrigerator for no more than two days;

cornflower flowers - 1 part
bearberry leaves - 3
licorice root - 1

One st. l. mix pour 1 cup boiling water, leave for 30 minutes. Take 1/4 cup 3-4 times a day 15-20 minutes before meals as a diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Decoction for washing eyes with eyebright:

1 tsp cornflower flowers,
1 tsp eyebright,

Pour two teaspoons of the mixture with a glass of boiling water, boil for 2-3 minutes on low heat under the lid, cool, strain, filter through cotton wool. Instill 2-3 drops into the eyes, rinse the eyes with this infusion 3-4 times a day.

Baths with a decoction of herbs with cornflower petals are used for diathesis in children, local baths are used for diseases of the joints.

Contraindications:

Hypersensitivity, individual intolerance to drugs with cornflower.
Cornflower preparations are contraindicated to be taken orally during pregnancy.
Consult with your doctor before taking medications with cornflower.

Watch the video of cornflower blue application:

Cornflower blue

Blue cornflowers are a good honey plant, from the flowers they get thick greenish-amber honey with a pleasant almond smell.

Blue dye can be obtained from tubular cornflower flowers.

Cornflower meadow description application

Cornflower meadow Centaurea jacea L. is a perennial rough plant with an upright ribbed branched stem up to 1 m tall with lilac-purple flowers collected 1-2 at the tops of the stems. Grows along paths, roads, meadows and clearings in the European part of the country and Altai.

Marginal flowers - with a leukoid corolla, barren, designed for beauty and attracting insects, in the middle the flowers are tubular, bisexual, pollinated by insects, bees especially love nectar, this is a good honey plant.

Meadow cornflower blooms in June - July, inflorescences and grass are used for medicinal purposes. Cornflower inflorescences are harvested and dried during the flowering period, the grass is cut throughout the summer.

In folk medicine, an infusion of meadow cornflower grass is used for stomach pain, headache, jaundice, dropsy, and heart disease.

Externally, the infusion is used for bathing children with diathesis, for baths with rheumatism, as lotions for eczema and purulent wounds. Make poultices when stretching muscles.

The infusion is used in the form of lotions for irritation of dry skin of the face, neck, hands, for eczema and seborrhea of the head. The infusion is used in the form of lotions for conjunctivitis, night blindness, and furunculosis.

Meadow cornflower flowers contain flavonoids, alkaloids, mucus, ascorbic acid, and mineral salts.

An infusion of meadow cornflower flowers has an antispasmodic, analgesic effect.

Preparation of an infusion from meadow cornflower flowers description:

One st. pour a spoonful of flowers with 2 cups of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes. Drink 1/4 cup 3-4 times a day 20 minutes before meals. The same infusion is applied externally.

To stimulate appetite, improve stomach function:

One tsp flowers pour 1 cup of boiling water, boil over low heat or a water bath for 10 minutes, leave for 1.5 hours, strain, squeeze. Drink in small sips of 1/3 cup three times a day before meals.

From the inflorescences of meadow cornflower you can get yellow paint for dyeing fabrics.

Bright colorful flowers of cornflowers in the height of summer not only delight us with their beauty, but can also bring great health benefits if they are attentive to their healing properties!

Read also about the medicinal properties of plants:

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Be always healthy and beautiful!

Perennial cornflowers, which are called Centaurea in Latin, will be a worthy decoration of the garden. These plants easily adapt to any conditions, are unpretentious in care and are successfully grown on the territory of Russia and the world. To grow them, you need to know what a cornflower looks like, where cornflowers grow, how to collect cornflower seeds and other issues related to agricultural technology.

Brief description of the flower

Cornflower from the Compositae (Asteraceae) family belongs to herbaceous plants. Includes several species, most of which originate from southern Europe. Today, it is ubiquitous throughout Europe and most often grows as a weed on plantations of grain crops, primarily rye. Most of the species are also found in Russia, and some of them are listed in the Red Book. These include:

upland cornflower;
cornflower Dubyansky;
cornflower Taliyev.

Cornflower perennial

Outwardly, the perennial cornflower is a beautiful plant, the shoots of which can be recumbent or erect, depending on the structure. Their height can reach 120 cm. The foliage is arranged alternately, the shape varies from whole to variegated-dissected. Inflorescences are presented in the form of baskets of various shapes: from the usual spherical to cylindrical. Scale wrappers are either bare or pubescent. They are arranged in several pieces or arranged one by one in paniculate and corymbose inflorescences. Along the edges are flowers in the form of a funnel, most often tubular. Their color in most cases is blue or blue, but there are other options:

white;
pink;
burgundy;
yellow;
purple;
red;
blue.

The root system of different species is also very different and can be represented in the following forms:

formed due to the numerous number of root overgrowth offspring;
with a powerful and deepened root rod;
with oblong branched rhizomes;
with a shortened strongly branched root forming a curtain;
with a strong and thickened spine.

Powerful stems

This plant can be grown for cultural purposes due to its beauty. They are often planted near schools and kindergartens to saturate the territories with greenery and bright inflorescences. They go well with daisies and bluebells. The useful value of the cornflower flower is very high due to the fact that it is a honey plant that can attract pollinating insects to a flower bed or orchard.

Cornflowers have a therapeutic diuretic effect, which leads to the use of folk remedies based on them for the treatment of kidney diseases. The petals of the plant are also rich in other medicinal properties. Due to their powerful aroma, the flowers can be used in cooking as a seasoning, as well as for cosmetic purposes.

Species and varieties

In nature, cornflower is represented by more than 500 different species, which differ from each other in inflorescences, the appearance of flowers, the shape of foliage, the elongation of shoots, the root system and other external indicators. The most common among them include the following:

Blue cornflower is the most common variety in Russia. Herbaceous annual or biennial plant with an erect stem about 80 cm high. The foliage is grayish-green, arranged alternately, woolly-web. The leaves in the lower part of the plant are petiolate, and all the remaining ones are linear, entire, sessile. Inflorescences are presented in the form of single baskets, placed along the edges of the leafless parts of the shoots. When asked when cornflowers bloom, you can answer that flowering begins in early summer and lasts until the end of autumn.
Cornflower large-headed - a perennial plant up to 120 cm high with yellow flowers of varying degrees of saturation with a diameter of up to 7 cm. Flowering lasts for a month and a half, starting in July.
Cornflower meadow - another perennial herbaceous plant about 80 cm in height. The stem is rigid, erect, ribbed. The plant is completely covered with a cobweb or grayish cover. The foliage is ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate arranged alternately. The upper and central leaves are sessile, while the lower leaves are attached to the stem with petioles. Inflorescences are basket-shaped, pinkish-lilac almost white.
Cornflower bleached. It is a perennial plant with an upright 60 cm stem, very sprawling, branched and densely leafed. The upper leaves are green, slightly pubescent, while the lower ones are whitish, dissected-pinnate, have an oval shape and are held on oblong petioles. The plant has beautiful bright pink flowers 4 cm in diameter, blooming from the beginning to the end of summer.
Cornflower pink. Herbaceous perennial plant with a stem 1 m high. The stems are erect. The leaves are light green in color, lanceolate-oblong. The inflorescences are enlarged, arranged singly, 5 cm in diameter. It blooms in early July and blooms for another month and a half.
Cornflower white. Herbaceous perennial a quarter of a meter high, distinguished by white double flowers, grouped in basket-shaped inflorescences 4 cm in diameter. The species is in the European Red Book.
Cornflower yellow. A perennial shrub of a pronounced cylindrical shape up to 1 m high. It has bright yellow flowers up to 5 cm in diameter. Lance-oblong leaves are placed on thickened straight stems.
Eastern cornflower. Mostly wild-growing perennial 80-120 cm high with pinnately divided foliage, held on oblong petioles. The flowers are yellow, collected in inflorescences-baskets.
Field cornflower is a grass of one year, 0.6 m high. The foliage is linear-lanceolate, gray-greenish in color. Upper foliage entire, lower slightly lobed. Basket inflorescences are located singly, the color of cornflowers is usually blue-blue. Blooms from late spring to late summer.

field cornflower

The most common varieties of cornflowers are:

Captivity Azurea;
Captivity of Carminea;
Captivity Rosea;
Blue Tiara;
Black Bal;
Florence Pink.

Note! In nature, there is a flower that looks like a cornflower. This is chicory, they are often confused with each other.

Growing and caring for a plant

Cornflower is not just a field weed. Decorative varieties look very good on the site.

Place selection

Cornflowers are flowers that belong to the category of heat-loving plants. In this regard, for them you need to choose an open area where the rays of the sun easily penetrate. Plants should not be planted too close to each other, so as not to cause excessive shading. It is worth providing a spatial isolation of 15-50 cm, depending on the type and variety.

The plant is best cultivated on light loam. From this it follows that on oxidized soils, lime must be added since autumn. It is also recommended to add sand or sawdust to give the soil additional looseness. Cornflower reacts negatively to the close occurrence of groundwater, so you should first take care of the organization of the drainage system.

Note! To prepare the soil directly for sowing, it will be enough just to dig it up and loosen it.

Sowing with seedlings

Cornflower seeds for seedlings are recommended to be sown either a month before transplanting seedlings into open ground, or a month before the end of the frost period. In most cases, this procedure is carried out in the last days of March - the first decade of April.

In advance, you need to prepare either peat pots or suitable containers that are filled with a special soil mixture for flower plants. When the containers are full, the soil in them is abundantly moistened and then the water is allowed to drain. After that, 3-4 seeds are sown in each pot and lightly sprinkled with earth. The containers are covered with plastic wrap to form a greenhouse effect. Containers are placed in a warm place, which, along with high humidity, will speed up the germination of seedlings.

When the seeds germinate, the film should be removed and the dishes should be moved to a room saturated with sunlight. When plants have 2 true leaves, the plantings are visually inspected to identify the strongest and most fully formed specimens. They are left for subsequent cultivation, and all other seedlings are pinched at the level of the ground surface. During this period, seedlings are also fed with complex fertilizer, previously dissolved in water.

Important! When the height of the seedlings is 8-10 cm, this means that they are ready for transplanting to a permanent place in open ground.

Sowing seeds in open ground

For this procedure, a period is selected when the soil warms up well enough. Most often this time falls on the end of April - the beginning of May. After 1-2 weeks, the first shoots will appear.

When cultivating perennial cornflowers, planting is recommended in autumn in a slightly frozen ground. Seeds spend the winter well under the ground layer and with the onset of spring immediately begin to grow.

Watering and fertilizing

Cornflower is a flower that does not like excess moisture. In this regard, moderate irrigation is carried out only in dry conditions with a long absence of precipitation. During rainy periods do without watering.

At the beginning of the cultivation of the plant, crops should be regularly weeded. When the bush grows large, it will be able to drown out all the available weeds. Approximately 1 time in 2-3 weeks, light loosening of the soil is carried out.

Fertilization for cornflowers is most often practiced in order to increase the continuation of their flowering period. The optimal mode of application of dressings is 1 time in 2 weeks. It is recommended to use complex preparations (kristalin, nitroammophoska) at the rate of 20-30 g of the substance per 1 m² of area.

Important! Nutrients should not be overdosed.

pruning

This procedure is carried out in order to increase the level of aesthetics of plantings, as well as to avoid self-seeding of plants. Practice 2 ways of trimming: low and high. In the first case, the height of the plantations after the procedure should not exceed 10 cm. High pruning means shortening the stems directly under the inflorescences. This method is more preferable for beginners.

Plant propagation

In addition to seed propagation on cornflowers, root cuttings and bush division are also used. Under natural conditions, plants reproduce by self-sowing after flowering is completed.

The division of the bush is carried out at the end of summer, when the flowering period is completed. The mother plant is dug out of the ground, thoroughly shaken off and washed with roots. Excess shoots are cut out, after which the lateral part is separated from the plant. There must be at least 3 buds per division. Then it is transplanted to a permanent place and the lower pruning is carried out. The transplanted part of the plant needs more frequent watering, which is carried out every other day, but in moderate volumes, avoiding waterlogging. Next year, this plant will already begin to fully bloom.

Bloom

Diseases and pests

Cornflower refers to plants that are rarely affected by certain diseases or harmful insects. Only fungal diseases and mites can cause significant damage to plantings.

The main disease of cornflowers is Fusarium, which is expressed in a painful change in the appearance of foliage. In this case, all affected areas must be removed and the cut points treated with special means. In hot weather, plantings can be attacked by a spider mite, which provokes yellowing of the foliage and the formation of dark spots on it, followed by abscission. All fallen leaves are immediately removed, and the plants themselves are sprayed twice a day with soapy water.

Ease of care, a variety of species and varieties, a pleasant decorative appearance make cornflowers promising for cultivation in gardens and flower beds. Its cultivation will not bring significant trouble and economic costs. Knowing which species to choose and how to grow it, you can get plantings of stunning beauty.

Today we are talking about flowers, but not about all, only about one - the flower Cornflower. What secret meaning does it carry and what lies behind its beautiful view?

Giving flowers is a wonderful and amazing tradition that has come down to us since ancient times. Now few people know the symbolism of flowers. And back in the 18-19 centuries, with the help of these graceful and beautiful plants, it was possible to express the whole gamut of feelings from all-consuming love to burning hatred.

Young people of Pushkin's age read with interest dictionaries and books about the meaning of plants, gave flowers and bouquets of them, putting at the same time a special and even secret, intimate meaning.

The method of transmitting information using colors is called the "language of flowers". It is believed that this extraordinary method of conveying emotions and feelings originated in eastern countries, where Muslim women and girls could not openly express their feelings.

Currently, the "language of flowers" is not as popular as it once was, and few people know the true meaning of flowers, their secret meaning. But, nevertheless, every year the interest in such an original method of conveying feelings is growing and gaining popularity.

This is due to the fact that by giving a flower, you can express a variety of feelings: hatred, sadness and joy, expectation and meeting. Flowers come to the aid of those who do not dare to openly express their feelings. One such plant is the simple yet beautiful flower cornflower.

Cornflower flower: the origin of the name

It is believed that the beautiful field flower cornflower got its name from the Greek word "basilikon", which is close in meaning to the modern nouns "basilisk", "basil" and its own name Vasily. flower cornflower- This is an old Russian borrowing from the Greek language, which used to mean "royal flower". Initially, the cornflower flower played an important role among the southern Slavs in funeral rituals and funeral rites.

The botanical name of the cornflower is centaurea.- This is a Latin designation that comes from the Greek word "kentaureion". It is this name that is associated with the centaur Chiron, the famous Greek mythological doctor who knew the healing properties of many plants, including cornflower.

There is also a version that Latin name cornflower ("centaurea") means "one hundred yellow flowers". In our country, cornflower is associated with blue, but in nature there are also yellow, purple, blue, white and pink cornflowers.

Botanical description of cornflower

Cornflower belongs to herbaceous plants of the Asteraceae family. Nowadays, there are more than 550 species of this beautiful wild flower. There are perennial, biennial and annual cornflower flowers.

Wildflowers are found in different parts of the world: North and South America, Eurasia, (tropics), as well as one species - in Austria. The height of cornflowers can reach one hundred and twenty centimeters. The flowering period of cornflowers is from June to September.

Symbolism of the cornflower

Currently, cornflower in the language of flowers means: "I do not dare to express my feelings to you!".

In addition, an elegant plant symbolizes trust, fidelity, openness, delicacy, grace and simplicity. Usually cornflowers are given to girls to show their sympathy and good disposition. Also, such a present is interpreted as an offer of friendship or a renewal of acquaintance.

The famous Russian translator and poet D. P. Oznobishin in the book “Selam, or the language of flowers” highlighted the following meaning of cornflower: “be simple as he is.”

When compiling this edition, Dmitry Petrovich translated a German book published in 1823 in Berlin, supplementing it with new plant names. The publication was very popular among young people of that time.

Among the ancient Slavs, two interesting holidays are associated with wild flowers cornflowers: “the ear went to the field”, as well as the “birthday sheaf”. The first holiday was celebrated by our ancestors at the time when the first ears appeared on the field.

Young people gathered on the outskirts of their village near the rye field, standing opposite each other in two rows. Then the girls and boys firmly held hands, along which a girl decorated with blue flowers of cornflowers walked. After that, the couples moved from the last rows to the first. This action continued until the girl walked hand in hand to the field, where she descended to the ground.

On the field of rye, she plucked several ears of corn, after which the whole procession went home, singing ritual songs. The second holiday took place before the harvest. The first sheaf that women gathered in the field was decorated with cornflowers. He was called "birthday" and solemnly carried to his house with songs.

Our ancestors loved to make beautiful wreaths from cornflowers, which they then hung in the house. It was believed that these field plants were able to drive away crickets. Also, cornflowers were very often the main element in the embroidery of our ancestors-craftswomen.

Made from cornflowers and natural dyes: the plucked extreme petals of the flowers were used to create blue dye, and the tubular petals were used to create a beautiful rich blue dye. It is known that natural paints made from cornflower flowers are very resistant. This is also evidenced by the fact that the wreath of cornflowers found in the tomb did not lose its blue color after millennia.

Legends of cornflowers

There are many beautiful legends associated with wild flowers cornflowers. In Russian legends, the name of this marvelous plant is associated with an old legend about the love of a beautiful mermaid and an ordinary plowman Vasily.

Two hearts in love could not decide where it is better to live in water or on land. As a result, he turns his lover into a beautiful blue flower that resembles the blue of water.

According to German tradition, blue cornflowers are small fragments of the sky, in which a golden field of rye fell in love. And even now you can see that with every breath of the wind, the ears of rye bend towards the beautiful cornflowers, quietly whispering wonderful words of love.

Healing properties of the flower

Cornflowers have been actively used in medicine and cosmetology since ancient times. Due to the presence of antiviral and antibacterial properties, a large number of useful substances, cornflowers are indispensable helpers in the treatment of various diseases.

The plant is widely used in folk medicine as a diuretic, as well as a choleretic agent. In addition, cornflowers have anti-inflammatory and anesthetic effects. In cosmetology flower cornflower used as a tonic. It is believed that the plant also has a rejuvenating effect.

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Cornflower flowers are pleasant and cute annual or perennial flowers that brighten up any area. Thanks to breeders, a huge number of different species and varieties have been bred. The areas where these plants are planted look attractive, and it is also pleasant to spend time on them, relieving fatigue and irritation from the eyes.

Types and varieties of cornflowers

The main types of this flower include undersized and tall cornflowers.

undersized cornflowers

These species look good in various flower beds, flower arrangements, rock gardens or rockeries. They look good if they are seated along the path. The undersized flowers include a beautiful cornflower, which is a perennial plant that blooms in early summer. It has not only blue flowers, but also pink, purple or gray.

Cornflower mountain is equipped with large flowers of blue or purple.

Also in demand is a bleached cornflower, equipped with large pink flowers.

Tall cornflowers

They can reach a meter in height. Often used in the background to decorate different flower beds or flower beds. Often with their help, unusual and bright accents are made. Popular varieties include large-headed cornflower, which has medium-sized yellow flowers.

Annual cornflowers are presented in different forms. The most popular is the musky flower, which has an unsurpassed and pleasant aroma. It is recommended to grow it in well-lit areas of the territory.

Field cornflowers are perennial or biennial, and they are a real decoration in any field.

Planting cornflowers

If you plan to grow cornflower flowers on private property, then you should plant them in the spring. You need to choose the time when the soil is well warmed up, since it is not allowed to freeze the plants.

Important! The best time for this is the end of April and the beginning of May.

When planting cornflowers, the main recommendations are taken into account:

the process can be performed in any soil, as cornflowers are unpretentious to the soil;
before planting, the earth will certainly loosen;
it is advisable to plant the segments together with the soil, and the offspring should be equipped with rhizomes;
cornflowers are distinguished by developed rhizomes, so a fairly significant distance is certainly left between them so that the plants do not cause discomfort to each other;
during planting, the roots are carefully straightened.

Cornflower care

Cornflower flowers are unpretentious, so they do not need to provide specific care.

By default, only simple actions are performed:

competent watering of cornflowers in the absence of regular natural precipitation;
elimination of weeds that prevent optimal flower growth;
the top layer of soil is periodically dug up;
if there are withered flowers, then they are removed, otherwise the flower bed will look unattractive;
if cornflowers are grown for cutting, then complex fertilizers are applied twice a month;
when a spider mite is detected, infected plants are cut off.

Thus, caring for cornflowers is considered so simple that it does not cause any difficulties even for novice gardeners.

Important! If a standard field cornflower is simply planted on the territory, then it does not need to provide any care at all.

Growing cornflowers

These flowers are grown outdoors, and it is desirable to choose areas well lit by the sun.

Important! Cornflower is a flower that prefers freedom, so you should not grow it in pots.

For optimal growth and development, a distance of approximately 30 cm is left between plants. Although there are no specific requirements for the soil, it is recommended to focus on fertile soil for better growth and flowering of plants.

Reproduction of cornflowers

Cornflower reproduces in different ways, which include:

using root cuttings;
by dividing the bush;
with the use of high-quality and properly prepared seeds.

Cornflower seeds are planted in the spring, and after that it is necessary to thin out the beds well. If cuttings are used or a bush is divided, then the process is implemented in early autumn. Before planting, it is recommended to soak the roots in water, and the shoots are slightly shortened.

Important! If a plot is used, then for a successful planting process it is necessary that there are more than three buds on it.

Watering cornflowers

Cornflowers are plants that do not need a significant amount of moisture, so they are provided with only moderate watering.

Usually summer rains are enough for this, but if the summer is dry, then the plants are periodically watered with a small amount of water. Cornflowers do not tolerate excessive moisture.

Soil for cornflowers

There are no special requirements for it, but it is best to choose light loams. It is desirable that the acidity of the soil is neutral. Before planting cornflowers, the earth is well loosened.

Important! If there is acidic soil on the territory, then limestone is introduced into it.

Clay soils are certainly lightened, for which the optimal amount of sand is added to them.

Rules for feeding cornflowers

Important! It is not allowed to overdo it with top dressing of cornflowers, as otherwise the leaves will turn ugly yellow.

If perennials are planted on the territory, then they should be fed in the autumn so that they become resistant to low temperatures.

The specifics of pruning cornflowers

To make the flowers attractive and interesting, faded cornflowers are cut off. This process can be done in high or low way. In the first case, the stems are cut directly under the inflorescences, and in the second case, the stem is cut off completely, so only 10 cm remain from the flower.

The high method is considered the most relevant, and after work the bushes look really neat, attractive and fluffy.

Diseases and pests of cornflowers

Perennial varieties of cornflowers are highly resistant to various infections or pests. However, they are exposed to the negative effects of fungi or mites.

Fusarium is a common disease of cornflowers, and it is quite simple to determine it, since the leaves quickly turn yellow, and they also begin to fall off soon. Damaged leaves are quickly cut off, and the trunk is treated with a special protective solution.

Cornflower is also exposed to spider mites. The pest leaves small spots on the leaves of different sizes and colors, and after that the leaves begin to quickly turn yellow. Damaged flower elements are cut off, and all cornflowers are sprayed with a special medicine.

Thus, cornflower flowers are interesting and attractive plants that will look great in the territory, flower bed or in various unusual flower arrangements. They are easy to plant, care for and reproduce, so even a novice grower can cope with these processes.