Centaurea montana 'Blue'

The cornflower-blue, fringed blossoms of this perennial attract butterflies like magnets in the garden. Centaurea blooms from early to midsummer and usually blooms again in the fall if plants are cut back hard after the first flush. The flowers are old-fashioned favorites in cut flower bouquets.

This species is a low, spreading one and it will self-seed prolifically if it is not deadheaded. However, it looks best when planted en mass where the blue flower display has the most visual impact.