Centaurea montana 'Purple Heart'

RHS Plant Profile
perennial cornflower 'Purple Heart'

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Centaurea montana 'Purple Heart'?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
perennial cornflower 'Purple Heart' RHS
perennial cornflower 'Purple Heart' RHS
perennial cornflower 'Purple Heart' RHS / Joanna Kossak
Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial
Thank you - your purchase supports our charity work Buy this from RHS Plants Shop
Buy online from £10.99Buy this from Plant Nurseries
22 Suppliers

A hardy, rhizomatous mound-forming herbaceous perennial with lance-shaped grey-green leaves, hairy underneath and sometimes toothed or lobed. White flowers with a purple eye appear from late spring into summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Matforming
Genus
Centaurea may be annuals, perennials or subshrubs, with simple or pinnately lobed leaves and showy thistle-like flowers-heads, often with enlarged outer florets
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Tolerates most soil types, best grown in moist but well-drained soil in partial shade or sun.

Propagation

Division in spring. Also grow from seed or root cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cut flowers

Pruning

Deadheading of faded flowers to prolong flowering season. Cutting back foliage after flowering may encourage second flush of flowers.

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews