Bachelor's Button or Blue Cornflower

Scientific Name: Centaurea cyanus

USDA Hardiness Zones: N/A (grown as an annual)

Approximate number of seeds per kilogram (pound) : 220,000 (100,000)

Sun: full sun or light shade

Water: keep soil moderately moist during germination, do not overwater

Soil: cover with 1/8 inch of soil, tolerates a wide range of soils

Temperature: 16 to 21 degrees Celsius (60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit)

Spacing: 4 pounds per acre or 12 to 15 inches apart in flower beds

Germination Time: one to two weeks

Bachelor's Button (or Cornflower) is one of the easier flowers to grow from seed.  It can be planted in the spring after the last frost or in the autumn after the first frost.  Cornflowers retain their bright color even when dried which makes them excellent for dried flower arrangements.