DESCRIPTION: Vivid amethyst coloured flowers dot the lovely green foliage; tolerates hot dry sites; good for the near front of a border.

BOTANICAL NAME: Centaurea montana 'Amethyst Dream'
OTHER NAMES: Mountain Bluet, Perennial Bachelor's Button
AVERAGE MATURE HEIGHT: 45-60 cm
AVERAGE MATURE SPREAD: 50-60 cm
SUN EXPOSURE: Full sun
FLOWER COLOUR: Rich amethyst purple transforming to a magenta center
FLOWERING TIME: Summer
FOLIAGE COLOUR: Silvery-green
COLD HARDINESS: Zone 3 ( Should survive up to -39.9° Celsius )
WATER NEEDS: Drought Tolerant
OTHER FEATURES: Attracts Butterflies, Border, Cut Flowers, Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant

Ornamental Features

Amethyst Dream Cornflower features unusual purple lacecap flowers with blue centers at the ends of the stems from mid spring to early summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its crinkled narrow leaves remain green in colour throughout the season. 

Landscape Attributes

Amethyst Dream Cornflower is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration:

• Spreading

Amethyst Dream Cornflower is recommended for the following landscape applications:

• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Amethyst Dream Cornflower will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Amethyst Dream Cornflower is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception.