Mountain Bluet (Centaurea montana)
[sen-TOR-ee-ah mon-TAN-ah]

Deciduous Perennial Erect, Clump-Forming in the Asteraceae Family
A tough, clump-forming European perennial topped with thistle-like, cornflower-blue blooms held above gray-green foliage from late spring into summer — drought-tolerant and a magnet for bees and butterflies.
Centaurea montana, commonly called Mountain Bluet or Perennial Cornflower, is a clump-forming perennial native to the mountain meadows of central and southern Europe. From late spring into summer it sends up wiry stems topped with striking thistle-like flowerheads — deep cornflower-blue, fringed petals surrounding a reddish-purple center, set off by distinctive black-edged bracts. The gray-green, lance-shaped leaves form a low mound that spreads gradually by stolons, making it a reliable, low-maintenance presence in a sunny border.

Pros

  • Striking cornflower-blue, thistle-like blooms with black-fringed bracts
  • Tough and drought-tolerant once established
  • Attracts bees and butterflies over a long bloom season
  • Low-maintenance and deer resistant

Cons

  • Spreads by stolons and self-seeds, can be aggressive in rich soil
  • Stems may flop and need staking or shearing after bloom
  • Benefits from division every 2-3 years to stay tidy
Why Like In its native mountain meadows of Europe, Mountain Bluet’s cornflower-blue blooms stand out amid grasses, drawing bees and butterflies throughout its long late-spring to summer bloom season. Its tolerance for lean, dry soils and its spreading habit via stolons let it hold its own in competitive meadow plantings.
Highlights Thistle-like cornflower-blue blooms with dramatic black-fringed bracts, blooming May into June and attracting pollinators.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 24 inches tall. 12 - 18 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium: Dry
Zones 3a - 9b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Edging, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rock Garden, Low Maintenance, Medium, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil Blue or Purple Flowering Perennials, Full Sun Perennials, Spring Blooming Perennials
Bloom Period May to June
Flower Color Blue
Foliage Color Gray-Green
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well in a sunny border with Catmint, Perennial Salvia, and Yarrow, whose spiky or flat-topped blooms contrast nicely with its rounded, thistle-like flowerheads.

Photos of This with...

Victoria Falls Tall Bearded Iris
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 09/12 - 10/05


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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.

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