How to Grow, Harvest, and Use Bachelor Buttons (Blue Cornflower)

How many of you are growing a garden this year? Are you growing medicinal flowers?

We started ours with basic things that could be eaten. It was a way to help cut down on food costs and to know the story of where our food was coming from. Knowing which growing methods were used, where the seeds came from, and the type of soil that they were growing in has always been important to us. 

Equally important as our vegetable garden, though, are our medicinal plants! After all, it's handy to also know where our medicine comes from. Today, we wanted to share a bit about one of our favorite medicinal flowers that we are growing here on the farm: the bachelor button! Also known as cornflowers, these edible flowers are used in many of our teas.

Bachelor buttons are easy to grow and will add a vibrant splash of color to your life, no matter how you choose to use them. In this guide, you’ll learn all about how to grow your own bachelor button flowers and how to make the most of all parts of the plant. Some of our favorite cornflower uses include cooking and making natural medicine.

The Legal Stuff

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What are Bachelor Buttons?

Bachelor button blooms are small, round flowers that are native to Europe. They come in many different colors –– from a classic brilliant blue to white, pink, purple, and more.

Bachelor button flowers are among my all-time favorite flowers. For starters, they’re incredibly beautiful and so easy to grow and maintain! Best of all, these flowers have plenty of health benefits and can be used in many different ways.

Are bachelor button plants and blue cornflowers the same thing?

Yes, and the names can be used interchangeably. The official botanical name is centaurea cyanus, but there are a few other names for this flower: blue poppies, blue bonnets, and blue caps. 

How to Grow Bachelor Buttons

Bachelor button plants are very easy to grow, making them a great option for gardeners of all levels. From seed to bloom, these annual flowers take around 65 to 80 days to grow.

Cornflowers thrive in cool to moderate climates. They prefer full sun but can also tolerate partial shade. Choose a location for growing that will get plenty of direct sunlight.

Well-drained, loamy, slightly alkaline soil is the best for growing bachelor button plants. You can use soil that is moderately fertile. We have grown these in our clay soil as well, though clay soil is very fertile - its just also as hard as a rock.

To prevent root rot, make sure that you don’t overwater. These plants do just fine in slightly dry conditions.

Starting seeds indoors vs. in the garden outside

Spring is a great time to plant cornflowers, but in warmer climates, it may make sense to plant during the Fall season instead. Since direct seeding is pretty easy with cornflowers, planting them inside isn’t necessary, but you can opt for indoor planting if birds tend to be a problem for you and your garden. I also enjoy starting them in the greenhouse in seed trays and then putting them exactly where I want them to be once they get transplanted.

To start your seeds indoors:

1. Start by filling pots with well-draining soil and make sure the soil is slightly moist before planting.
2. Plant the seeds about a quarter of an inch deep and cover them lightly with soil.
3. For gentle watering, mist the soil with a spray bottle.
4. Place your pots somewhere where they can get 12-16 hours of sunlight a day, either under lights or next to a window.
5. It will take one to two weeks for the seeds to germinate. Before transplanting them outside, make sure to harden them off.

Planting outdoors:

1. Prepare a well-drained soil bed.
2. Sow your seeds a quarter of an inch deep, spacing them about 2 inches apart and covering them lightly with soil.
3. Give the plants enough water to stay moist, but make sure they don’t get soggy.
4. Eventually you’ll want to thin out your seedlings so they’re 6 to 12 inches apart.

Harvesting, Drying, and Using Blue Cornflowers

Once your cornflowers have grown, they’ll be ready for you to harvest and enjoy! There are so many different cornflower uses, including both culinary and medicinal purposes.

Harvesting

The best time to cut bachelor button flowers is when they are not yet fully opened. A quarter of the way or halfway open is perfect. Your blooms will continue to open up after harvesting. Here are some tips for best results: 

• Use sharp garden shears to get a clean and easy cut.
• Cut directly above a leaf node to encourage more blooms.
• Harvest Early in the Morning, just after the dew has dried off.
• Watch out for bees, they seem to love the flowers, at the same time of day you do.

You can make the most of your cornflowers by saving some seeds to plant next year. Gather some of the withered flowers, wait until they’ve fully dried up, then use your hands to gently remove the seeds.

Drying

There’s so much you can do with a fresh blue cornflower harvest, but you can also dry out the flowers to use them in other ways, including in loose-leaf tea blends or crafts. An easy way to dry out your flowers is to hang them upside down in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. If you are using an electric food dehydrator, clip the stem off and place them bloom side down. Grab the specific details on drying all sorts of flowers, fruits, roots, and botanicals.

Culinary Uses

Bachelor button flowers are edible, making them a great addition in the kitchen. They are generally flavorless so that they won’t affect the flavor of your favorite recipes or tea blends. Plus, they contain calcium, folates, and vitamin C –– and they’re packed with antioxidants too. They are beautiful and work great as edible confetti! 

You can use fresh or dried petals as decorations to take any cake, cupcake, or dessert to the next level. Try combining petal pieces and sugar to make a stunning sugar rim for drinks. And of course, be sure to add them to a homemade loose-leaf tea blend or coffee blend! 

TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF THE TEAS THAT INCLUDE BACHELOR BUTTONS HERE AND HERE

Cornflowers also add a beautiful pop of color when used in fresh salads. Here is a simple recipe for our favorite spring salad, one we have almost nightly down on the farm when veggies are coming in fresh from the spring garden.

Medicinal Uses

Due to their anti-inflammatory properties, bachelor button plants are good to use in a mouth rinse, and they also help with bleeding and sore gums. They can help your digestive system with stomach ulcers and constipation, and with UTI infections and liver detoxification too.

• Anti-inflammatory Mouth Rinse: The anti-inflammatory properties of bachelor buttons make them effective in mouth rinses to support sore or bleeding gums.

• Digestive Aid: They are used to support the digestive system, addressing issues like stomach ulcers and constipation.

• Urinary Tract Support: Bachelor buttons have been employed in the treatment of urinary tract infections.

• Liver Detoxification: Traditionally, they have been used to assist in liver detoxification processes.

• Eye Health: Applying the petals to the eyelids can soothe irritation, puffiness, or redness.

• Menstrual Cramps: Some women take cornflower preparations to support menstrual health.

•  Nosebleeds: Traditionally, bachelor buttons have been used to help with nosebleeds.

• Diuretic Properties: They have been used to address issues related to low urine production, acting as a natural diuretic.

• Nutrientive Herb: Bachelor buttons contain vitamin C, folate, and calcium, supporting inflammation, red blood cell production, and maintaining bone health.

Bachelor buttons can be added into our homemade plantain salve and can be used on cuts, wounds, and scrapes.

Parts of the Bachelor Button to Use

The flower is the most commonly used part of this plant, but the stems and leaves of cornflowers are useful too. You can use the juice in the stem to stop bleeding. The inside of the stem is also useful for poultice for aching and sore muscles, or for treating open wounds.

Bachelor Buttons Frequently Asked Questions

Why are cornflowers called bachelor buttons?

Cornflowers got this nickname from an old tradition. Many years ago, single men wore blue cornflowers in the buttonholes of their jackets to indicate that they were ready for courtship.

Are bachelor button plants invasive?

Yes, cornflowers are considered invasive. This is because they produce such a large volume of seeds and can spread easily to new areas.

How do I keep bachelor button flowers blooming?

To keep your cornflowers blooming, cut off the tops of the flowers as soon as they start to wilt. This will help them regrow with more beautiful blooms.

A Must Have Beautiful Flower for the Home Herbalist

With how beautiful and versatile the blue cornflower plant is and how easy it is to grow this medicinal flower in your garden, it’s no surprise that bachelor button plants are so popular. Nothing is better than making culinary creations and natural medicine from the beautiful blooms God provides us.

If you want to keep track of everything you’re learning about cornflowers and your other favorite plants, be sure to download our FREE Monograph Journal Pages so that you can store all of your notes and pictures!

Read More About Flowers & Their Uses

• How to Grow the Best Types of Flowers for Bouquets 
• Growing Fresh Edible Flowers; The Ultimate Guide
• How to Grow, Harvest, and Use Lilacs
• Dandelion Jelly & Other Flower Jelly Recipes 
• Lavender Earl Grey Shortbread Recipe
• How to Use Saffron; Lussekatters and Beyond