How to prune mountain cornflower

Cut back after first flowering (June–July) for a second flush; tidy in autumn. After the first flush fades, cut all stems back hard to about 10 cm (4 in) or to basal foliage to stimulate fresh growth and a second flower flush. In autumn, cut back to ground level.

Mid-season hard cut-back annually; autumn tidy; divide clumps every 2–3 years. Mountain Cornflower (Centaurea montana) benefits from deadheading or a hard cut-back after the first flush of early-summer flowers to encourage a second flush in late summer or early autumn. Cut all growth back to basal level in autumn. It spreads readily — divide clumps every few years to maintain vigour.

After the first flush fades, cut all stems back hard to about 10 cm (4 in) or to basal foliage to stimulate fresh growth and a second flower flush. In autumn, cut back to ground level.