Black Ball Purple Cornflower Seeds, Bachelor Button, FREE SHIPPING Cornflower ‘Black Ball’ has intensely dark purple blooms which contrast beautifully with tall silver stems that are perfect for cutting. Cornflowers, also known as bachelor buttons, adapt to a variety of soils and thrive in full sun or partial shade. These versatile plants are also heat and drought tolerant, and are ignored by deer. ‘Black Ball’ is equally at home in beds and borders as well as meadow gardens where it attracts numerous pollinators and beneficial insects. Flower petals are edible and can be sprinkled on salads, cottage cheese, and desserts. Sowing: Direct sow in late fall or early spring, planting the seeds thinly and 1/2″ deep. In the spring, keep the soil moist after sowing; germination should occur within 7-10 days. To start indoors, plant three or four seeds 1/2″ below the surface in individual peat pots. Keep the soil lightly moist and at a temperature of 65-70 degrees F until germination; thin to the strongest seedlings. Transplant the seedlings before they reach a height of 5″. Growing: Water seedlings occasionally until they become established. Mature plants tolerate drought, but prefer adequate moisture and may need occasional watering. Prune off developing tips to force the plant to produce more branches and fuller growth, as well as more flowers. If the stems begin to fall over, provide support. Deadhead spent blossom for the most abundant flowers, keeping in mind that the latest blossoms will need be left in order to produce seed; though an annual, it will reseed easily to produce volunteer plants. This plant attracts butterflies and bees, in addition to providing nutritious seed for birds. Cornflower grows well in containers as well as in the garden Name: Black Ball Bachelor Button Cornflower Scientific Name: Centaurea Cyanus Color: Purple Plant Seeds: Outdoors After Frost or Indoors Weeks Before Last Frost Plant Height: 28″ – 36″ Plant Spacing: 15″ – 18″ Cycle: Annual but reseeds itself as a perennial Bloom Season – Spring/Summer Light Requirements: Full Sun Soil & Water Preferences: Average Other: Attracts bees, birds, & butterflies SHIPPING INFO*********** Tracking is only available for all orders $14 and above. Orders under $14 will be shipped USPS First Class stamped letter mail without tracking as this service begins at $3.95 with the Postal Service. If your order does not qualify for tracking and does not arrive in the allotted time given by Ebay, please reach out to us before opening a case within the resolution center. Please give us the courtesy of contacting us by messaging us first. Time for delivery is anywhere from 2–10 business days. Thank you. We are really getting tired of liars and scammers. Our seeds are fresh all year round and they come from the number one seed grower an supplier in the united states so when you try to say not one seed grew then either your a liar, do not know how to grow or the weather or something played a part in them not growing but IT IS NOT the seeds. Seeds are tested every 60 days for germination so from now on anyone that tries to lie to us and say not one seed grew and leaves nasty feedback that is not true will be banned for life from buying from us in any of our stores. We have been in the seed business for 21 years, not just on this new account so do not think for a minute we are not professional growers ourselves. If someone buys 250 seeds and says not one grew that is an impossibility and your a liar. We will not tolerate liars or those trying to intentionally hurting one’s business. You have been warned. Due to having too many issues with the following states, California, Oregon, Washington and New York there is now no free shipping for those states. There is a $5.00 shipping cost.