Heirloom

Choice Mix

Centaurea cyanus

yellow and pink flowers with green leaves

Choice Mix is an easy-to-grow heirloom flower variety ready for harvest in 65-75 days. This blend produces delicate blooms that thrive in full sun to partial shade with well-drained, moderately fertile soil. The flowers offer a subtle, mildly floral taste with delicate, slightly sweet notes, making them ideal for culinary garnishing and edible flower arrangements. Choice Mix flowers are prized by home gardeners for their hardiness and low maintenance requirements. Watch for common pests including aphids, spider mites, and leafhoppers to maintain plant health throughout the growing season.

Harvest

65-75d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

2–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1-3 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Choice Mix in USDA Zone 7

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Zone Map

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Choice Mix · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-drained soil, moderately fertile

WaterModerate, drought tolerant once established

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorBland and mildly floral taste with delicate, slightly sweet notes.

ColorBlue, pink, purple, and white

Size1-1 1/2"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—

Succession Planting

Direct sow Choice Mix every 14–18 days starting April 1 through early June in zone 7. Each sowing gives you a fresh flush of blooms roughly 70 days out, so a late-May round puts cut flowers in your hands by mid-August. Stop once daytime highs are consistently above 85°F — germination drops sharply in heat, and any plants that do come up will bolt fast and give you short-lived, spindly flowers. You can squeeze in one more sowing in late August or early September for a fall flush before first frost, which typically arrives around mid-November in north-central Georgia.

Complete Growing Guide

Upright plants produce abundant double and semidouble 1-1 1/2" blooms. Prefers cool temperatures. Also known as cornflower, garden cornflower, and bachelor's buttons. Edible Flowers: Use the petals of this great edible flower for decorating desserts. Centaurea is also a popular choice for brightening up salad mix. Flavor is bland and mildly floral. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Choice Mix is 65 - 75 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Heirloom, Easy Choice, Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Edible Flowers, Attracts Beneficial Insects.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt). Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed.

Harvesting

Choice Mix reaches harvest at 65 - 75 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 1-1 1/2" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

Finely hairy, straw-colored at maturity with a tuft of short, stiff, light brown bristles at the tip.

Color: Cream/Tan. Type: Achene. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.

Harvest time: Fall

Edibility: Edible

Storage & Preservation

For fresh flowers, keep stems in cool water at room temperature (65-70°F) away from direct sunlight and ripening fruits. Change water every 2-3 days for optimal vase life of 7-10 days. Dry flowers by hanging bundles upside down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space for 1-2 weeks. Freeze petals in ice cube trays with water for decorative use. Press flowers between parchment paper under heavy books for 2-3 weeks to preserve for crafts and arrangements.

History & Origin

Choice Mix is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Western Asia, Europe

Advantages

+Produces abundant double and semidouble blooms for continuous color
+Easy to grow with minimal care requirements for beginners
+Edible petals perfect for decorating desserts and brightening salads
+Prefers cool temperatures, ideal for spring and fall gardens
+Upright growth habit keeps plants tidy and organized

Considerations

-Bland, mildly floral flavor limits culinary appeal for edible use
-Requires cool temperatures, struggles in hot summer conditions
-Days to bloom of 65-75 means slower gratification than quick bloomers

Companion Plants

Marigolds and sweet alyssum are the two I'd actually prioritize alongside bachelor's buttons. Tagetes patula confuses and deters aphids through scent, and sweet alyssum pulls in parasitic wasps that keep aphid populations from snowballing — in our zone 7 Georgia gardens, that combination matters most from late April through June when pressure peaks. Nasturtiums work as a trap crop, drawing aphids off your Centaurea. Keep bachelor's buttons well clear of black walnut; juglone from its roots moves through soil far enough to stunt or kill plants that look like they're nowhere near the tree.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel nematodes, aphids, and other pests while attracting beneficial insects

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, repel squash bugs

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps

Zinnias

Attract pollinators and beneficial predatory insects like ladybugs

Cosmos

Provide beneficial insect habitat and attract pollinators

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting bees

Sunflowers

Attract beneficial birds and pollinators, provide natural support for climbing plants

Calendula

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and asparagus beetles while attracting beneficial insects

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone which is toxic to many flowering plants

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of nearby plants

Dense Groundcover

Competes aggressively for nutrients, water, and light

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Aphids, spider mites, leafhoppers

Diseases

Powdery mildew, aster yellows, rust

Troubleshooting Choice Mix

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

White powdery coating on leaves and stems, usually showing up after a stretch of humid weather

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — thrives in warm days with cool, humid nights
Poor airflow from overcrowding at spacing under 12 inches

What to Do

1.Pull the worst-affected plants and bin them — don't compost them
2.Thin remaining plants to at least 12 inches apart to open up airflow
3.Spray remaining foliage with a diluted potassium bicarbonate solution (1 tablespoon per gallon) every 7 days until symptoms stop spreading

Stunted, twisted new growth with yellow mottling; flowers come out distorted or fail to open

Likely Causes

Aster yellows — a phytoplasma disease spread by leafhoppers (Macrosteles quadrilineatus)
High leafhopper pressure in seasons following a mild winter

What to Do

1.Pull infected plants immediately — aster yellows has no cure and leafhoppers will spread it to adjacent flowers within days
2.Use row cover over seedlings early in the season to limit leafhopper feeding before plants are established
3.Don't replant Centaurea or other susceptible asters (coneflowers, marigolds) in the same spot the following season

Clusters of soft green or black insects on new shoot tips and buds, with sticky residue on lower leaves

Likely Causes

Aphids (commonly Myzus persicae or Aphis fabae) — populations explode fast in spring when plants are putting out tender growth
Absence of beneficial insects, often from over-spraying nearby crops

What to Do

1.Knock aphids off with a firm stream of water from a hose — do this in the morning so foliage dries before evening
2.If pressure is heavy, apply insecticidal soap directly to colonies, coating the undersides of leaves where they hide
3.Plant sweet alyssum nearby to attract parasitic wasps (Aphidius spp.) that will work the problem down over time

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Choice Mix cornflower blooms last in a vase?▼

With proper care, these double and semidouble blooms last 7-10 days in fresh water. Change water every 2-3 days, trim stems at an angle, and keep them away from direct sunlight and ripening fruits to extend vase life. Cooler room temperatures (65-70°F) also help prolong bloom longevity.

Is Choice Mix cornflower good for beginners?▼

Yes, cornflowers are excellent for beginner gardeners. They're rated Easy to grow, tolerant of various conditions, and require minimal maintenance. They prefer full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours), grow upright naturally, and produce abundant blooms throughout the season with little intervention required.

Can you grow cornflowers in containers?▼

Yes, Choice Mix cornflowers grow well in containers. Their upright growth habit and compact size make them suitable for pots, though adequate drainage is essential. Provide at least 6-8 inches of soil depth and ensure containers receive 4-6+ hours of sunlight daily for best flowering performance.

What does cornflower taste like?▼

Cornflower petals have a bland, mildly floral flavor with a slightly sweet, delicate taste. They're more prized for visual decoration than flavor intensity, making them ideal for garnishing desserts and adding color to salad mixes without overwhelming other flavors.

When should I plant Choice Mix cornflowers?▼

Direct sow seeds after the last spring frost once soil is workable, or start indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date for earlier blooms. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days. These cool-season lovers can also be sown in fall in mild climates for winter/spring flowering.

How should I use cornflowers in the kitchen?▼

Use the petals to decorate cakes, cupcakes, and desserts for a beautiful edible garnish. Add fresh or dried petals to salad mixes for color and mild floral notes. They can also be crystallized with egg white and sugar for elegant cake decorations, or steeped in hot water for a delicate herbal tea.