Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd
Cornflower Polka Dot Mixed
Cornflower Polka Dot Mixed
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Cornflower 'Polka Dot Mixed' Seeds
If you love the look of a wild meadow but don't have the space (or the shelter) for tall, swaying stems, 'Polka Dot' is the solution. This is a specially bred dwarf variety that stays neat, compact, and busy, reaching just 30-40cm high.
True to its name, it sprinkles the garden with bright button flowers in a cheerful mix of classic blue, maroon, rose-pink, lilac, and white. Because it is short and sturdy, it never needs staking, making it the number one choice for windy gardens, front-of-border edging, or creating a "mini meadow" in a patio container.
Read our full UK growing guide for Cornflowers here: Cornflowers in Your Cottage Garden: Growing Guide for UK Climate
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Cornflower is a Hardy Annual.
It grows, flowers, and dies in one season. It is incredibly tough and easy to grow.
The "Zero Fuss" Flower: Unlike the tall varieties which can get messy if not supported, 'Polka Dot' forms a self-supporting mound. It is perfect for children's gardens because it grows fast and provides a lot of colour at eye-level for little ones.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Cornflowers hate root disturbance, so direct sowing is best.
Germination:
Sow directly outdoors from March to May, or in Autumn (Sept) for early flowers next year. Scatter seeds onto raked soil or into a pot and cover lightly (3mm deep). Germination takes 14-21 days.
Where to Sow:
They demand **full sun**. They thrive in well-drained soil. They flourish in "poor" soil, so don't add manure or fertiliser, otherwise, you will get lots of leaves but few flowers.
Care While Growing:
Thinning: If sowing in a pot, don't let them get too crowded. Thin seedlings to about 15cm apart so they have room to bush out.
Deadhead: Snip off the dead flower buttons to keep the plant neat and blooming for months.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Centaurea cyanus |
| Common Name | Dwarf Cornflower 'Polka Dot' |
| Hardiness | H7 (Very Hardy - to -20°C) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 30cm - 40cm (Dwarf) |
| Spread | ↔️ 20cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 15cm - 20cm apart |
| Great for | 🏺 Pots & Window Boxes 🐝 Bees & Pollinators 🧱 Edging Paths 🥗 Edible Garnish |
| Seed Count | Approx. 200 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
Create a drought-tolerant container display by pairing 'Polka Dot' with these low-growers:
- ☀️ Californian Poppy 'Golden West': The Gravel Garden Mix. Both plants are dwarf, love dry soil, and hate root disturbance. The bright orange of the poppy creates a vibrant contrast with the blue cornflowers in the mix.
- 🏵️ Calendula 'Fiesta Gitana': The Dwarf Duo. This is a dwarf pot marigold that grows to the same height as the Polka Dot cornflower. Plant them together for a "potager" style container of edible flowers.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow outdoors in autumn or spring. Flowers mid-summer to autumn.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Outdoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||
| Flowers | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
⚠️ Edible Flowers
Cornflower petals have a mild, clove-like flavour. The whole flower head is edible! Use the mixed colours to create stunning, confetti-like decoration on cupcakes or summer cocktails.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
This is a top-tier plant for biodiversity. Centaurea cyanus is listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list, producing high-quality nectar that is easily accessible to bees and butterflies.
