The Garden Community for Garden Lovers

The mountain cornflower


The mountain cornflower  (Centaurea montana (Berg Centaurie))

I think they are trying to take over the whole terrace .... I can never decide if I really like them. I like the individual flower ... but the whole lot together ... dunno ...



Comments on this photo

 

Oh yes, I think it looks nice :o) I would never be without this plant, but I can't get it to grow like that ....

26 May, 2012

 

Hywel, It is another plant that came with the house. This bed as a complete overgrown jungle and in autumn I digged out everything. As nothing was in flower by that time I didn't know what anything was. I dug out loads of aquilegia and loads of these cornflower and I almost dug out the oriental poppy at the back of that bed too! Come spring these started growing so I thought I'll see what they were .... and all of those just came through and this year I can see new plants sprouting at the edges too ... They propagate through something like "runners" underground I think. I think we have clay soil and someone on here said they like clay soil - so maybe that's why.

26 May, 2012

 

I do like these as well. And I like anything that spreads with no help from me. We have clay soil here also and a lot of plants don't seem to tolerate it.

26 May, 2012

 

Maybe so GF :o)

27 May, 2012

 

Lauram, I've been told by a friendly assistant at the GC to mix in manure, grit and sand in the clay soil to improve it .... trying it out ..

27 May, 2012

 

I have tried, and that helps somewhat, but my drainage is still absolutely terrible. Everytime I water I have puddles! Some plants really love it, wood ferns for one, but others just sort of crash and die.

28 May, 2012

 

I know what you mean. I tried a Heuchera last year and the roots just rotted :( I guess we have to choose our plants carefully. I'm sure somewhere on the GoY site I've seen a list of plants for clay soil while browsing ... trick is ... which page was it ???

28 May, 2012

 

Try Goypedia at the bottom using the letter C to look for clay. You might find it that way. I've clay and lost a few heucheras this winter GF. I love these blue flowers but like you...it's a bit much for me with all the foliage...but then I'm not a great perennial plant grower generally, I seem to prefer things with a bit more structure. The colour is superb though and the frilliness of the flowers.

28 May, 2012



Comment on this photo


Pictures by all members
101154 of 302260

What else?

View photos by Garden_fairy

See who else is growing Centaurea montana (Berg Centaurie).

See who else has plants in genus Centaurea.

This photo is of "Mountain Cornflower" in Garden_fairy's garden

Members who like this photo

  • Gardening with friends since
    2 Nov, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    9 Jul, 2010

  • Gardening with friends since
    30 Dec, 2011

  • Gardening with friends since
    8 Apr, 2010

  • Gardening with friends since
    9 Aug, 2009