Cornflower Tall Double Red Boy

The plant is not toxic to humans or pets. On the contrary, its beautiful raspberry-colored flowers are completely edible! You can use them to decorate celebration cakes, desserts, and summer salads in a very original and elegant way, or use them to liven up refreshing drinks.

The 'Tall Double Red Boy' variety is a relatively tall annual that reaches a height of 60 to 80 cm. It is adorned with rich, double flowers in an unconventional, deep raspberry shade, measuring about 4 cm across.

You will enjoy these magnificent blooms all summer long; typically, the cornflower blooms from June until the end of September.

Yes, the cornflower is literally a magnet for pollinators. During the hot summer months, its flowers serve as a very rich food source for bees, bumblebees, and butterflies. By growing this annual, you are actively contributing to supporting beneficial insects and biodiversity in your area.

Cornflowers love cooler weather. In the spring, it is ideal to do 2 to 3 sowings, spaced about 2 to 3 weeks apart (March, April, May). This will ensure continuous blooming throughout the summer. Later in the season, it is usually too hot for spring sowing.

A great alternative is autumn sowing (August to October). Because the 'Tall Double Red Boy' cornflower is frost-hardy down to -15 °C, young plants will overwinter without any problems and bloom much earlier in the spring.

Although direct sowing directly into the site is definitely recommended, starting them indoors is possible. Start about 3–4 weeks before the planned outdoor planting (during February or March). Always sow only 1 to 4 seeds, ideally in small seed trays or peat pellets. Cornflowers do not tolerate root disturbance well, so you must proceed with maximum care when transplanting them to the flower bed.

We recommend sowing directly into the garden bed as soon as the soil thaws in the spring and can be worked (often as early as March). Sow the seeds in rows at a depth of 0.5 cm, as they need to be covered. Keep the soil moderately moist. The germination time is approximately 5–10 days at an ideal temperature of 16–20 °C.

Once the seedlings have their first true leaves, it is necessary to thin them to a spacing of 20–30 cm so they have enough room to grow.

Definitely! This raspberry cornflower is ideal for cutting for colorful summer bouquets. Its unusual color catches everyone's eye, and it lasts quite a long time in a vase.

It is also excellent for drying. If you want to preserve the flowers for dried arrangements, cut them when fully bloomed, tie them into small bundles, and hang them upside down in a dry, shaded, and well-ventilated area.

Regarding diseases, cornflowers can occasionally develop a fungal infection called powdery mildew (which appears as a white coating on the leaves). This most often occurs if the plants are planted too close together and there is poor air circulation between them.

As for pests, the plant may be bothered by aphids, which like to attack young shoots and buds. You can get rid of them by mechanically washing them off with water or by using natural sprays, such as those based on soap or neem oil.

Yes, this variety of cornflower readily self-seeds in the garden. If you leave a few flowers on the plant at the end of the season in autumn to naturally ripen and drop their seeds, it is very likely that you will be surprised by an abundance of new young seedlings in the same spot next spring.

This problem is most often caused by transplant shock. In general, cornflowers do not tolerate handling well because they have a very sensitive root system. If you have started your seedlings indoors, it is necessary to transplant them very carefully without disturbing the root ball. A much more reliable and simpler solution to avoid this problem entirely is to sow the seeds directly into the outdoor bed.

Cornflowers thrive best in a sunny spot, but they also tolerate partial shade very well. As for the soil, permeable, sandy, or loamy soil is ideal. Regarding water requirements, they need moderate watering—keep the soil reasonably moist, but avoid prolonged waterlogging. The plant is low-maintenance, making it easy for beginners to grow.

Thanks to its natural and delicate appearance, the Tall Double Red Boy variety fits fantastically into naturalistic flower beds. It stands out beautifully in combination with ornamental grasses, small daisies, or delicate white-flowering annuals. Its silvery blue-green foliage elegantly softens the entire composition.