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The Annual Garden: Centaurea

Centaurea cyanus, Bachelor's Buttons, Bluets, or Ragged Robin. Centaurea are hardy annuals and may be sown in early April where they are to bloom, or in the fall for bloom in early spring. Spring sowing is safer and therefore more satisfactory. They require no special care, thriving in almost any soil, but demand a sunny situation. Their blooming season is short and their space may be used for late-sown annuals. The flowers come in bright blue, pink and white. Centaurea imperialis comes in purple, lilac, flesh and rose. The lilac and flesh varieties are the best. The flowers are double, and their culture is the same as centaurea cyanus. The seed must be started early in spring as the plants dry up in hot dry weather.

Clarkia Elegans is a tender annual best started in a frame in March or April. The plants should be staked early and planted 8 or 10 inches apart in the garden. The blooming period lasts about 6 weeks and the flowers are good for use as cut flowers.

Varieties. The Salmon Queen is the best pink.

Elegans Alba, white.