perennial

Mountain Bluet

Centaurea montana

 

 
Mountain Bluet (Centaurea montana) at Ron Paul Garden Centre

Mountain Bluet flowers

Mountain Bluet flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  24 inches

Spread:  24 inches

Sunlight:  full sun 

Hardiness Zone:  2

Other Names:  Perennial Bachelor's Button

Description:

Unique and eye-catching with beautiful blue petals and rose anthers; heat and drought tolerant, excellent for sunny gardens; beautiful when added to fresh or dried arrangements; remove spent flowers to encourage new blooms

Ornamental Features

Mountain Bluet features unusual blue lacecap flowers with rose anthers at the ends of the stems from late spring to late summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain grayish green in colour throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Mountain Bluet 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;

  • Self-Seeding

Mountain Bluet is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • General Garden Use
  • Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

Mountain Bluet 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 type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Garden  Naturalizing 
Applications
Flowers  Attracts Wildlife 
Ornamental Features