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Flower profile

Bachelor Button

Quick facts

Botanical name: Centaurea cyanus. In SAF's language of flowers, Bachelor Button means anticipation.

Bachelor Button at a glance

Meaning
anticipation
Colors
  • Blue
  • Pink
  • White
  • Purple
Vase life
5-6 days.
Season
Early summer in the garden; field-grown cut stems in late spring and summer.
Special care
Buy or cut when flowers are just beginning to open. Keep away from ripening fruit; C. cyanus is ethylene-sensitive. Re-cut stems, use flower food and change water often.
Size
A slender annual 1 to 3 feet tall with small, fringed flower heads about 1.5 inches across
Also called
Cornflower, Bluebottle, Bachelor's button

About bachelor Buttons

A slender annual 1 to 3 feet tall with small, fringed flower heads about 1.5 inches across. Best known for its intense true blue, it also comes in pink and white.

How to make bachelor Buttons last

  1. Keep them cool until they are in water. Keep your flowers in a cool place until you can get them into a flower food solution.
  2. Fill a clean vase with water and flower food. Use a clean, deep vase and add the flower food from your florist, following the mixing directions on the packet.
  3. Remove leaves below the waterline. Leaves in water promote bacterial growth that can limit water uptake by the flower.
  4. Re-cut the stems. Remove one to two inches with a sharp knife or clippers that will not crush the stems, then place the flowers straight into the vase.
  5. For bachelor Buttons. Buy or cut when flowers are just beginning to open. Keep away from ripening fruit; C. cyanus is ethylene-sensitive. Re-cut stems, use flower food and change water often.
  6. Keep them in a cool spot. 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, away from direct sunlight, heating or cooling vents and ceiling fans.

Care steps from SAF’s flower care tips. More flower care tips →

Questions about bachelor Buttons

What does the Bachelor Button mean?

In the traditional language of flowers, the Bachelor Button stands for "anticipation".

What colors do Bachelor Buttons come in?

Bachelor Buttons come in blue, pink, white and purple.

How long do Bachelor Buttons last in a vase?

5-6 days. Re-cut the stems, use the flower food from your florist and keep the vase cool and out of direct sun to get the most days.

How do you care for Bachelor Buttons?

Keep Bachelor Buttons cool until they are in water, use a clean vase with flower food, remove any leaves below the waterline, re-cut the stems by one to two inches and keep the vase at 65 to 72 degrees, away from direct sunlight and vents. For Bachelor Buttons: Buy or cut when flowers are just beginning to open. Keep away from ripening fruit; C. cyanus is ethylene-sensitive. Re-cut stems, use flower food and change water often.

Where can I buy Bachelor Buttons?

From a local SAF member florist. Enter the recipient's ZIP code on this page to find florists near them.

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