Perennial cornflower 'Amethyst in Snow' Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow'
ABOUT
'Amethyst in Snow' is a spreading, herbaceous perennial with grey-green foliage covered in silvery hairs. The thistle-like flowers, white with purple centres, open from scaly buds in late spring and early summer
About this plant
NamesFamily
Asteraceae.
Synonyms
Mountain Bluet, Perennial Cornflower, Mountain Knautia, Mountain Centaury, Bachelor's Button, Montane Knapweed, Amethyst in Snow.
Common names
Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow'.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
White
Height
1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
Spread
1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
3-8
Native area
Europe
Benefits
General Benefits- Aesthetic Appeal: Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow', commonly known as Mountain Bluet, has striking bicolored flowers that add visual interest to gardens and landscapes.
- Attracts Pollinators: The vibrant flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, helping to support local ecosystems.
- Low Maintenance: Once established, Mountain Bluet is known for being relatively low maintenance, requiring minimal care and watering.
- Drought Tolerance: This plant is tolerant of drought conditions, making it suitable for gardens in areas with water restrictions or low rainfall.
- Deer and Rabbit Resistant: Its foliage and flowers are not favored by deer and rabbits, helping to reduce damage from grazing in the garden.
- Resilience: Mountain Bluet is known for being disease and pest resistant, making it a robust addition to a garden.
- Long Blooming Period: The plant blooms for an extended period, from late spring to early summer, offering prolonged color and interest.
- Great for Cut Flowers: The flowers make beautiful cut arrangements, adding charm to indoor settings.
- Herbaceous Perennial: As a perennial, it returns year after year, providing a lasting component to garden designs.
- Easy to Propagate: It can be easily propagated by division, allowing gardeners to expand their plantings or share with others.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- As a natural dye: This plant can be used to dye fabrics and yarns, providing them with a range of purple and blue hues depending on the mordant used.
- Photography: The contrasting colors of 'Amethyst in Snow' can be utilized in macro photography to create visually stunning images with its white and purple tones.
- Floral art: Due to its unique two-toned flowers, it can be used as a special element in floral arrangements, bouquets, and other decorative floral art forms.
- Edging for walkways: The plant provides a neat edge to garden paths, with its dense growth habit helping to define space within the garden.
- Eco-friendly confetti: Dried petals of the plant can be turned into biodegradable confetti for celebrations, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional paper or plastic confetti.
- Icing decoration: The flowers can be crystallized and used to decorate cakes and desserts, adding a touch of edible elegance to culinary creations.
- Bookmarks: Pressed flowers of the 'Amethyst in Snow' can be used to create unique and decorative bookmarks.
- Fabric prints: The silhouette of the plant can be used in fabric print designs for a natural and botanical aesthetic in clothing and home textiles.
- As a moth deterrent: The dried flower heads may be used among clothes in wardroves to deter moths, although it is not as effective as traditional moth repellents.
- Landscape photography: This plant can be used to add foreground interest and color contrast in landscape photographs, especially when seeking to enhance the composition with wildflowers.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Mountain Bluet is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Mountain Bluet is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Love and Devotion: The Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow', commonly known as Mountain Cornflower, often symbolizes love and devotion due to its intense blue flowers, reminiscent of enduring, passionate feelings.
- Hope: The bright appearance of the flower can symbolize hope, representing an optimism for the future, as flowers often signal the arrival of spring and new beginnings.
- Purity: The 'Amethyst in Snow' variety, with its unique white petals surrounding a deep purple center, can evoke a sense of purity and innocence through its striking color contrast.
- Nobility: Historically, the color purple has been associated with nobility and royalty, and the deep purple hues of the Mountain Cornflower can represent this dignified symbolism.
- Healing: Centaurea species, in general, have been used in traditional medicine, and so the Mountain Cornflower may carry symbolism related to healing and health.
WaterMountain bluet should be watered deeply to encourage a strong root system. It prefers consistent moisture, particularly during the growing and flowering season. On average, water mountain bluet with about one inch of water per week, but this may change based on climate conditions and soil type; in periods of drought or extreme heat, more frequent watering may be necessary. Ideally, this translates to approximately 0.6 gallons per square foot every week, depending on the size of the plant and environmental conditions. Always ensure that the soil has proper drainage to prevent root rot due to overwatering.
LightMountain bluet thrives best in full sun to partial shade. It requires a spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day for optimal growth and blooming. However, it's adaptable enough to tolerate some light afternoon shade, particularly in hot, southern climates. Avoid placing mountain bluet in deep shade, as this can lead to weak growth and fewer flowers.
TemperatureMountain bluet is quite cold-hardy and can withstand temperatures as low as about -20°F, making it suitable for many temperate regions. The ideal temperature range for this plant falls between 50°F and 70°F, which encourages healthy growth and flowering. Although tolerant of variations, it's important to avoid sudden extreme changes in temperature to ensure the plant's vigor.
PruningMountain bluet should be pruned to maintain shape, encourage bushier growth and more prolific blooming. Deadheading spent blooms can prolong the flowering period. It's best to prune mountain bluet after the first flush of flowers is over, which typically happens in early summer. If the plant becomes leggy or overgrown, cut it back by about a third to encourage new growth.
CleaningAs needed
SoilMountain bluet prefers well-draining soil enriched with organic matter with a pH range of 6.1 to 7.8. A good soil mix can consist of garden soil, compost, and perlite to ensure proper drainage and fertility.
RepottingMountain bluet is a perennial that does not typically require frequent repotting. Repotting can be done every 2-3 years or as needed to refresh the soil or if the plant has outgrown its current container.
Humidity & MistingMountain bluet thrives in average humidity conditions and does not require any special humidity considerations, making it suitable for a variety of outdoor environments.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Ensure good light, well-drained soil, and avoid overwatering.
Outdoor
Plant in sun to partial shade, in well-drained soil.
Hardiness zone
3-9 USDA
Life cycleThe life of Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow', also known as Mountain Bluet 'Amethyst in Snow', begins with seed germination, which occurs in early spring once soil temperatures allow. Seedlings emerge and establish a rosette of basal leaves, and the plant develops a deep taproot. During late spring to early summer, the plant produces flowering stems bearing distinctive bicolored white and purple flowers, which attract pollinators. After pollination, the flowers develop into seed heads that release seeds in late summer to autumn, ensuring propagation for the following season. Throughout the growing season, the plant experiences vegetative growth, expanding its foliage and perhaps spreading through rhizomes. In winter, the above-ground part of the plant dies back, but the plant can survive with its root system and regrow the following spring, starting the cycle anew.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to Summer
The most popular method of propagating the Mountain Cornflower 'Amethyst in Snow' involves division of the plant. This is best done in spring or early fall, when the plant is not in full bloom and has expended less energy. To propagate by division, carefully dig up the plant ensuring a good amount of root system is intact for each division. Gently tease apart the roots to create smaller clumps, each with several shoots and a healthy root system. Replant the divisions at the same depth they were originally growing, spacing them about 12 to 15 inches apart (approximately 30 to 38 centimeters), and water well. This not only helps to create more plants but also invigorates the older clumps, encouraging them to produce more vigorous growth and bloom.
