Photo: USDA APHIS PPQ Archive, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.orgCC BY 3.0 usvia Wikimedia Commonsresized / cropped
Sharpe Cornflower Plant Care
Centaurea acuta C.A.Mey.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Crupina vulgaris is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Its common names include common crupina, bearded-creeper, false saw-wort, and starry scabious. It is native to parts of Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and it is known elsewhere as an introduced species and often a noxious weed.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Sharpe Cornflower?
Water Sharpe Cornflower every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Sharpe Cornflower Native To?
- Albania
- Algeria
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Egypt
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Libya
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- The Netherlands
- Tunisia
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
What Is the Sharpe Cornflower?
Sharpe Cornflower (Centaurea acuta) belongs to the Asteraceae family within the Centaurea genus. Sharpe Cornflower is native to parts of Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and. Sharpe Cornflower is also known as Centaurea acuta.
Sharpe Cornflower displays an upright, branching perennial growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Sharpe Cornflower produces showy, thistle-like flower heads in various colors.
Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Sharpe Cornflower?
Centaurea acuta requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Sharpe Cornflower Need?
Sharpe Cornflower thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Sharpe Cornflower Prefer?
Centaurea acuta grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Sharpe Cornflower prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Sharpe Cornflower?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Sharpe Cornflower to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Sharpe Cornflower?
Feed Sharpe Cornflower every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Sharpe Cornflower?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Sharpe Cornflower?
Sharpe Cornflower can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to blue cornflower plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Sharpe Cornflower Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Sharpe Cornflower, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Sharpe Cornflower?
Sharpe Cornflower is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, powdery mildew. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Sharpe Cornflower Need?
Sharpe Cornflower grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Sharpe Cornflower is native to parts of Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and. In cooler regions, grow Sharpe Cornflower as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Sharpe Cornflower is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Centaurea genus — compare its care with other Centaurea species on PlantoScan.
Centaurea is part of the Asteraceae plant family — browse all Asteraceae genera and species.
Sharpe Cornflower thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Centaurea Species
Other Centaurea species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Centaurea acuta C.A.Mey., family Asteraceae (first published in Verz. Pfl. Casp. Meer. 65 (1831) (1831)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Sharpe Cornflower, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: USDA APHIS PPQ Archive, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0 us, Wikimedia Commons — original.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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