Centaurea montana Gold BullionMountain bluet
Family:Asteraceae
属:矢车菊属
common name:Mountain bluet
introduce:Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Asteraceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Spread: 0.75 to 1 foot
Bloom Time: May - June
Bloom Color: Blue
Sun: Full sun (only)
Water: Dry to medium moisture
Maintenance: Low
General Culture:
Easily grown in average, dry to medium wet, well-drained soils in full sun. Needs full sun for best golden foliage color. Drought tolerant. Avoid rich, fertile soils. Can spread somewhat invasively by rhizomes to form colonies in optimum growing conditions (particularly in cool northern climates). Remove spent flower stalks to the ground after bloom to best enjoy the golden foliage for the remainder of the growing season. Sparse rebloom in late summer-early fall may occur. Plants need to be divided every 2-3 years.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Gold Bullion, as the name suggests, is a golden-leaved cultivar of Centaurea montana. It is an erect, rhizomatous, clump-forming perennial which features solitary, fringed, rich blue cornflowers (2" diameter) with reddish blue centers and black-edged involucre bracts. Flowers appear in late spring atop stems typically growing 1-2 tall. Lance-shaped lower leaves to 7" long. Foliage is golden yellow, unless grown in too much shade wherein it fades to an inferior lime green. Species flowers are commonly called mountain bluets, perennial cornflowers or perennial bachelors buttons.
No serious insect or disease problems. Rust, aster yellows and stem rot are occasional problems.
Uses:
Best massed in border fronts and cottage gardens.
