"French pink bleuette," "bluebottle" to the English and now know as Cornflower or Bachelor Button, Centaurea cyanus was among the cultivated flowers Jefferson listed on an undated manuscript. A handsome, sun-loving annual flower, it has been popular in America since colonial times, and Bernard McMahon offered it in five colors -- purple, red, blue, white, and striped.
Visit Monticello’s Online Shop to check for seeds or plants of Bachelor Button.
Typical Blooming Dates: April through July
Color(s): Blue, Purple
Location at Monticello: Vegetable Garden
In Bloom at Monticello is made possible by support from The Richard D. and Carolyn W. Jacques Foundation.