Cornflower  (Centaurea cyanus)

Along with many other farmland plants, cornflower has suffered through the increasing industrialisation of agriculture. The use of pesticides and fertilisers, destruction of field edges, conversion to improved pasture and development of competitive crop varieties have resulted in the decline or loss of many of our so-called arable weed species.

The cornflower is listed under the UK Biodiversity Action Plans and included in English Nature's Species Recovery Programme. It is also part of Plantlife's 'Back from the Brink' project.

The most urgent tasks to preserve this plant are to maintain its current range and manage viable populations on all the present sites. Seed has been collected and stored at the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place, part of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. This seed may be used for ex-situ propagation and a reintroduction programme if this becomes necessary.

It is also important that the cornflower's plight is publicised, along with many other farmland plants in danger of disappearing through intensive agricultural practise. These other plants include interrupted brome, Deptford pink and purple ramping fumitory.