Bachelor's Button 'Black Ball'

Black Bachelor’s Buttons (Centaurea cyanus)

Deep, moody, and utterly captivating, Black Bachelor’s Buttons bring a bold, romantic edge to any garden or bouquet. Their velvety maroon-to-near-black blooms—up to 2 inches across—sit atop strong, upright stems, creating a striking vertical element that pairs beautifully with soft pastels, silvery foliage, or warm, sunlit tones. Perfect for cutting gardens, borders, or wildflower-style plantings, these flowers add drama, texture, and an old-world charm.

An easy-to-grow annual, Black Bachelor’s Buttons thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, rewarding gardeners with a long, prolific bloom period from early summer through fall. Plants are resilient, low-maintenance, and adaptable to most garden conditions, making them ideal for both seasoned growers and beginners. Deadheading spent blooms encourages continuous flowering and prevents legginess, though allowing a few to go to seed ensures a gentle, naturalized return in the following season. Their pollinator-friendly blooms attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects, adding life and movement to any garden. Also known as Cornflower.

DETAILS:

QTY: 100

TYPE: Hardy Annual

SITE: Full Sun

DEPTH: 1/4"

GERMINATION: 7-14 days at 16-18°C

HEIGHT: Approx. 36"

SPACING: 9-12"

PINCH: No

HOW TO GROW:
Direct Seed (recommended): Sow seeds outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring. Cover seeds lightly and keep the soil surface moist until emergence. Once the first true leaves appear, thin seedlings to a final spacing of 6–9" apart. In areas with mild winters, you can also sow in the fall for earlier blooms the following spring.

Transplant (alternative): Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost. Once the first true leaves appear, transplant into larger containers. Grow at 10–12°C  at night for several weeks to help develop a strong root ball. Harden off and transplant outdoors after the last frost.

Pinching: Pinching is not necessary for Bachelor's Button. However, deadheading spent flowers is highly recommended to encourage more blooms throughout the season.

Soil Preference and Watering: Bachelor's Button prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Keep the soil consistently moist during germination and establishment. Once mature, it is a drought-tolerant plant.

Fertilizing: Fertilizing is not required for Bachelor's Button. It performs best in lean to average soil.

Harvesting: For bouquets, harvest stems when the flowers are fully open. For drying, harvest at the same stage and hang bunches upside down in a dark, well-ventilated area for 2–3 weeks. This annual may also self-seed, creating a naturalized look in your garden.