Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow' - Amethyst in Snow Mountain Cornflower

Unique and eye-catching with white outer petals contrasting with deep plum purple centers; heat and drought tolerant, excellent for sunny gardens; beautiful when added to fresh or dried arrangements; remove spent flowers to encourage new blooms

Height: 24 inches. Spread: 24 inches. Sun: full sun. Hardiness zone: 2b.

Ornamental features

Amethyst In Snow Cornflower features unusual white lacecap flowers with plum purple centers at the ends of the stems from late spring to mid summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain grayish green in color throughout the season.

Landscape

Amethyst In Snow 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;

Recommended for: Mass Planting, Border Edging, General Garden Use, Container Planting.

Planting and growing

Amethyst In Snow 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. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

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 is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. 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.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.