Cornflower  (Centaurea cyanus)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Range

Although it has declined in north-western Europe, the cornflower is not considered a threatened species in Europe as a whole, and its stronghold is in the Mediterranean countries. However, in Britain there is now only one persistent and self-sustaining population, in Suffolk, although there are recent records from arable fields in Wiltshire, Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire. There are scattered plants throughout southern England and Wales although it is thought that most of these may originate from wildflower seed mixtures and do not last for many years.

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Habitat

Cornflower is a plant of arable fields and sandy loam soil. It was often found growing in association with corn marigold Chrysanthemum segetum.

left