Centaurea montana 'GRANDIFLORA' mountain bluet
size/type
mid-sized perennial,mid-sized perennial
usual height
0,4-0,6m
usual width
0,4-0,5m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
June-July
location
full to partial sun
soil type
any (acidic to alkaline)
soil moisture requirements
evenly moist but well-drained
USDA zone (lowest)
3 (down to -40°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Bluet is a native perennial of Czech countryside, growing around lower mountains of Šumava and Nové Hrady. I can understand that farmers are unhappy when its close relative cornflower (centaurea cyanus) weeds in their fields but looking at a blue mass of just blooming bluets is fantastic and brings us back to our childhood when we used to appreciate simple beauty of nature and its colours.
Description of the plant:
Grandiflora variety of mountain bluet has all features of the species, but larger flowers. They are about 4-5 cm wide, gentian to sky blue (depending on the soil type), and the sight of the entire blooming clump, as well as the detail of a single flower, is breathtaking for flower lovers. The flowers look like no other and are difficult to describe, you simply must have a look.The leaves are softly hairy, pale to medium green, broadly lanceolate, and so pleasant to the touch. Compared to the bluet from the meadows, this one makes slightly shorter and stronger stems that do not bend or break. The clump is so dense that you can also use it as a ground cover between other other perennials with tall stems.
In the wild the species is considered endangered. Grow it in a sunny border or in part shade. As it makes a compact, bushy clump, it can be used as a groundcover among perennial with tall stems. Bluet needs free-draining soil that is medium fertile and preferably evenly moist rather than completely dry on hot summer days. It can be cut back after flowering to encourage regrowth of new foliage that will keep the plant attractive by the end of the season. Plants can be divided every 2-3 years in early spring or late autumn. Hardy to about -40 °C (USDA zone 3).
Last update 28-09-2023
WANT TO TRY A SIMILAR PLANT?
Goods are shipped all over Europe. For Russia and U.K. and for further details please read about SHIPPING OPTIONS HERE.
Are you interested in a serious discount for orders NOV-FEB? Check your options here.
THE PRICES INCLUDE VAT of 15%. For quick conversion you can use 1 CZK = approx. 0.04 EUR
GLOSSARY
- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
