| Common Name | Bachelor Buttons, Sweet Sultan, American Basket Flower |
| Genus | Centaurea |
| Species | C. cyanus (Bachelor Buttons), C. moschata (Sweet Sultan), C. americana (American Basket Flower) |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Life Cycle | Hardy Annual |
| Tray Size | 125 |
| Plug Care | Plant soon after arrival and avoid any stress on the seedlings when still in the plug trays. This includes drying out, over-watering or becoming root bound. Harden off before transplanting to avoid sunburn. These species can handle cold temperatures and light frosts but should be protected from hard freezes. Handle roots gently to minimize stress when transplanting. Stressed plugs will flower prematurely. |
| Netting / Staking | Most plants in the Centaurea genus get tall enough to require support of some kind, however it can make harvesting tricky. If you space your plants out further and stay on top of harvesting, you will have stronger, bulkier plants that can support themselves a little easier. Closely spaced plants that are competing with each other for sunshine and room to grow will often topple in the wind. Also, plants that have been left to bloom freely and set seed will be more top-heavy. Some growers harvest the entire plant and treat bachelor buttons as a one-and-done, while others will cut side branches and treat the plant as a cut-and-come-again. There is no one-way to grow these plants and it comes down to the preferences of each individual grower. |
| Temperature Range | These are cold-tolerant annuals that can withstand some light frost in the spring after planting (or in the fall, in southern zones). They can be grown as an annual across the US and most will self-sow if left to go to seed. They do not tolerate heat well and will typically decline in production when the temperature spikes in the summer. This is a cool-season annual. |
| Spacing | Generally speaking, 6-12 inches is adequate depending on species. Bachelor Buttons and Sweet Sultan can be spaced a little more closely compared to Basket Flowers. When they self-sow they are practically growing on top of one another and should be thinned for the best quality stems. Plants spaced further apart will grow larger and the side branches can be harvested over a longer period of time, where plants spaced closely together will be smaller and might be better treated as a one-and-done. |
| Soil Preference | Moist, well drained soil is best. Prefers humus or soils rich in organic matter but can tolerate poorer soil (plants will be smaller). Irrigate and fertilize regularly for top quality stems. |
| Day Length | These are day-neutral plants that will bloom in early spring when the days are still short or later in the summer, depending on when they get planted. They require full sun. |
| Pinching | Pinching is not necessary. |
| When to Plant | In southern zones, these species can be fall-planted with great success. In northern areas, they should be planted in the spring, a few weeks BEFORE your last frost, to give them a long, cool establishment period before the heat of spring/summer really kicks in. If planted too late in the spring they will bolt and flower on small, spindly stems. |
| Harvesting | Harvest when the petals are emerging and the bud is starting to open, but before the flower is completely blown open. For stems with multiple buds/flowers it is a good idea to harvest when one or two flowers are open and the rest of the buds are closed. Open flowers won't have the longest vase life, but mature buds will continue to open in the vase. |
| Post Harvest Care | Cut stems should immediately be placed in cool water, and left somewhere out of direct sun to hydrate. Can be kept in the cooler for a few days before use - a holding solution is optional to extend vase life. Expect a vase life of about a week. |
| Diseases / Insects | Because of the shorter flowering window, these species rarely suffer from pests or disease. Watch for typical garden pests such as thrips, spider mites, aphids and caterpillars. Irrigate from below (drip irrigation) and avoid overhead watering to minimize the risk of foliar diseases. |
| Bailey's Notes |
Please note, we currently only have C. moschata 'The Bride' on our catalog, but we will have additional varieties available down the road Although these Centaurea varieties represent different species, they share remarkably similar cultural requirements. Their sizes vary significantly, with Bachelor Buttons being the smallest, Sweet Sultan falling in the middle, and American Basket Flower standing out as the largest. Keep this in mind when working out spacing and other cultural requirements. |
| Resources | NA |