Cornflower

Description:

It is an annual plant growing to 16-35 inches tall, with grey-green branched stems. The leaves are lanceolate, 1–4 cm long. The flowers are most commonly an intense blue colour, produced in flowerheads (capitula) 1.5–3 cm diameter, with a ring of a few large, spreading ray florets surrounding a central cluster of disc florets. The blue pigment is protocyanin, which in roses is red. In the past it often grew as a weed in crop fields, hence its name (fields growing grains such as wheat, barley, rye, or oats are sometimes known as corn fields in the UK.

Habitat:

Native to Europe. It is also, however, through introduction as an ornamental plant in gardens and a seed contaminant in crop seeds, now naturalised in many other parts of the world, including North America and parts of Australia. This one was growing near a large field along a dirt road in Aiken County, SC.

Notes:

It's also known as Bachelors button, Bluebottle, Boutonniere flower, Hurtsickle, and Cyani flower. Cornflowers are often used as an ingredient in some tea blends and tisanes