Blue Mountain Bluet (Centaurea montana 'Blue')
sen-TOR-ee-ah mon-TAN-ah 'Blue'

Deciduous Perennial Mounded, Spreading in the Asteraceae Family
A trade-name selection of the classic blue-flowered Mountain Bluet, with thistle-like cornflower-blue blooms over gray-green, spreading foliage from late spring into summer.
Centaurea montana 'Blue' is essentially the classic form of Mountain Bluet, grown and sold under a simple cultivar name for its true cornflower-blue, thistle-like flowers with reddish-rose anthers. Blooms are held above a spreading mat of soft, gray-green foliage from late spring into summer, and the plant naturalizes readily, reseeding and spreading by stolons to fill in over time.

Pros

  • Classic cornflower-blue, thistle-like blooms
  • Easy-care and drought-tolerant once established
  • Attracts bees and butterflies
  • Naturalizes readily in a sunny border or meadow planting

Cons

  • Reseeds and spreads readily, can be assertive in rich soil
  • Stems may flop and benefit from shearing after bloom
  • Benefits from division every 2-3 years
Highlights The classic cornflower-blue form of Mountain Bluet, reliable and easy to naturalize in a sunny border.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 18 - 24 inches tall. 18 - 24 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Extended Bloom Time, Full Sun, Good for Beginners, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Dried Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rock Garden, Low Maintenance, Medium, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Hot Dry Site, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period Late Spring
Flower Color Blue
Foliage Color Gray-Green

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with Catmint, Salvia, or Yarrow in a sunny border.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 08/27

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!