The cornflower, with its striking blue color, has come to symbolize several different things throughout history and across cultures. Some of the common symbolic meanings associated with cornflowers include:
Innocence
One of the most predominant symbolic meanings of the cornflower is innocence, which comes from its soft, delicate appearance. The cornflower’s light blue hue evokes a sense of youthfulness, naivety, and purity. This meaning has roots in Victorian flower language, where cornflowers represented ingenuousness and guilelessness. The cornflower was sometimes called “bachelor’s button” for this reason.
Sentimentality
Cornflowers hold sentimental meaning for many people, especially in Europe. In Germany and Austria, the cornflower symbolizes sentimentality because it was the favorite flower of Kaiser Franz Joseph’s wife, Empress Elizabeth. She loved cornflowers so much that her gardens were filled with them. Today, the cornflower remains a national symbol of Austria and Germany, featured even on stamps and currency.
Remembrance
In France, the cornflower symbolizes remembrance in honor of the veterans who fought in World War I. Soldiers who died fighting for France wore cornflowers on their uniforms, so the flowers came to represent the memory of those fallen soldiers. Wearing a cornflower is still a way to commemorate Armistice Day in France.
Delicacy
The delicate nature of cornflowers, with their fragile stems and thin petals, gives them an air of fragility. As a result, cornflowers symbolize delicacy and subtlety. Sending cornflowers can express sensitivity or convey a sense of tenderness or gentleness.
Humility
In Christian symbolism, cornflowers represent humility. This stems from the flower’s association with the biblical parable about the lilies of the field. Just as the lilies neither toil nor spin yet are clothed in splendor, cornflowers evoke humble simplicity and rustic modesty.
Hope
For some, the cornflower’s bright blue color symbolizes hope and optimism. Blue typically represents openness, imagination, and inspiration. The vibrant blue of a cornflower can provide a sense of aspiration and faith in the future.
Male Fertility
In folklore, cornflowers had protective qualities related to fertility and procreation. Wives would sprinkle cornflower petals in the bed to help conceive a son, and dried flowers were sometimes carried as amulets thought to increase virility and male fertility.
Luck
Carrying cornflowers was historically thought to bring good luck. People would keep cornflowers on hand or in the home to attract prosperity and ward off poverty. This may relate to their blue color, as blue flowers were often considered lucky.
Constancy
The perennial nature of cornflowers ties them to the symbolism of reliability and dependability in relationships. Their tendency to self-seed represents commitment and constancy. Displaying cornflowers conveys trustworthiness, loyalty, and enduring affection.
Friendship
In the language of flowers, cornflowers represent friendship. Their cheery blue blossoms evoke camaraderie, affinity, and connection. Presenting someone with cornflowers expresses loyalty and solidarity between friends.
Beauty
With their vivid color and distinctive shape, cornflowers symbolize natural beauty. They represent the splendor and charm found even in common wildflowers. Simple cornflowers convey the idea that beauty can be subtle yet impactful.
Fascination
Cornflowers spark a sense of curiosity and captivation in many. Their eye-catching color makes them mesmerizing, while their unique form intrigues. Cornflowers suggest a quality of fascination and intrigue.
Conclusions
From innocence to remembrance to hope, the cornflower has accumulated diverse symbolic meanings across many cultures. But most meanings relate back to its vivid blue color and delicate appearance that convey purity, delicacy, sentimentality, and natural beauty. To many, the cornflower represents the simpler joys found in everyday life.
| Culture/Region | Symbolic Meaning |
|---|---|
| Victorian | Innocence |
| Germany/Austria | Sentimentality |
| France | Remembrance |
| Christianity | Humility |
| Folklore | Male fertility, luck |
| Flower language | Friendship |
This table summarizes some of the key symbolic meanings of the cornflower throughout history across different cultures and regions.
Innocence
The cornflower’s association with innocence dates back to the Victorian era in England. Victorians used an intricate language of flowers, called floriography, to express feelings that otherwise could not be spoken aloud in polite company. The cornflower’s delicate beauty led it to represent ingenuousness and purity in this floral lexicon.
Sentimentality
In German and Austrian culture, the cornflower became a symbol of sentimental feelings. This tradition started with Empress Elisabeth’s fondness for the bloom. Cornflowers were even featured on Austrian currency and stamps. Today they represent nostalgia.
Remembrance
In France, the cornflower is historically linked to the fallen soldiers of WWI. Soldiers going off to battle wore cornflowers on their uniforms, so the flower took on meaning related to remembrance and commemoration.
Humility
For Christians, the cornflower carries connotations of humility and modesty. This comes from Biblical scripture that refers to the simple beauty of lilies in the field. The cornflower evokes similar humble simplicity.
Male Fertility
Folklore assigned protective properties to the cornflower related to fertility and reproduction. New brides would incorporate cornflowers into the marital bed to promote conception. Dried flowers were carried to guard male virility.
Friendship
As a blue blossom associated with affinity, the cornflower came to mean friendship in the coded language of flowers. It expresses loyalty and companionship between friends.
So in different times and places, people have seen the delicate cornflower as representing innocence, remembrance, humility, fertility, friendship, and other symbolic meanings.
Symbolism in Art and Literature
The cornflower has inspired symbolism far beyond cultural folklore. Many artists and writers have incorporated the bloom and its meanings into creative works.
Heinrich Heine
German lyric poet Heinrich Heine featured the cornflower prominently in his works. To Heine, the cornflower represented homesickness for Germany during his exile in France. His poem “The Cornflowers” explores patriotic longing through this symbolic bloom.
Kate Greenaway
Victorian children’s book illustrator Kate Greenaway captured the cornflower’s innocence in her delicate watercolor paintings. She featured cornflowers as symbols of childhood purity and naivety.
Sergei Esenin
Russian poet Sergei Esenin wrote extensively about the cornflower as a national symbol of Russia. His poem “The Persian Cornflower” tells the folk story of a singer turning into a cornflower.
Marc Chagall
Surrealist painter Marc Chagall depicted cornflowers in many works. His cornflowers represent faith, optimism, and imagination with their blue color and upward gaze toward the sky.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Romantic writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe featured cornflowers in his play Faust as a representation of constancy and enduring love.
Edvard Munch
Norwegian artist Edvard Munch painted cornflowers immersed in water as a metaphor for life and continuous renewal. The floating cornflowers symbolized the continuum between life and death.
Cornflowers in Politics
The rich symbolism of the cornflower has made it powerful in political contexts as well. Political groups have adopted the cornflower to represent their causes.
White Cornflower of Austria
In Austria during the early 20th century, the white cornflower symbolized support for the Austrofascist regime. This meaning stemmed from the flower’s association with Empress Elisabeth.
Blue Cornflower of Germany
In Germany, the blue cornflower represented solidarity with German nationalists. It was used by the National Socialist party before World War II to signify German patriotism.
Cornflower Social Democratic Party
Austria’s Social Democratic Party wears the cornflower as a symbol of freedom and equality. This reclaimed the flower from its association with fascism.
Cornflower of France
In France today, those affiliated with socialist or ecology-focused political parties may wear a cornflower. This draws on historic meanings of remembrance and natural purity.
Though controversial at times, the cornflower has retained poignant symbolism even within tense political contexts. The flower’s blue color and ties to nationalism have resonated in particular.
Cornflower Facts
Beyond its extensive symbolic meanings, the cornflower is an interesting and ecologically valuable flower in its own right. Here are some key facts about the biology and botany of the cornflower:
- Cornflowers belong to the daisy family Asteraceae. There are around 40 species, mostly native to Europe.
- The most common type grown ornamentally is Centaurea cyanus, native to Europe.
- Cornflowers thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. They grow 1-3 feet tall.
- As annuals, cornflowers bloom from spring to midsummer. Flowers last about 2-4 weeks.
- Colors range from vivid blue to pink, purple, white, and red.
- The cornflower is the national flower of Estonia and symbol of the University of Helsinki.
- Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are attracted to cornflowers.
- In folk medicine, cornflowers treated pain, inflammation, and eye ailments.
- Cornflowers have edible, bittersweet petals used in tea, syrups, and garnishes.
Taxonomy
Cornflowers belong to the large Asteraceae or daisy family. This family contains around 32,000 species in over 1,600 genera. It includes many ornamental flowers like chrysanthemums, dahlias, zinnias, marigolds, and sunflowers.
Native Range
Most cornflower species hail from Europe and temperate regions of Asia. The common Centaurea cyanus originates from Europe and was introduced to North America and Australia as an ornamental flower.
Growing Conditions
Cornflowers thrive best in full sun exposure and moderately fertile, well-draining soil. They handle drought but not soggy or wet soils. Give cornflowers space to prevent fungal issues.
Blooming Habits
These annual flowers will bloom heavily for 2-4 weeks. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowering. In cooler climates, cornflowers may bloom again in fall before the first frost.
Colors and Cultivars
Blue is the classic cornflower color, but many cultivars offer shades of pink, purple, red, white, and bi-color. Popular types include ‘Blue Diadem’, ‘Red Ball’, ‘Snowman’, and ‘Black Ball’.
Uses for Pollinators
Cornflowers attract an array of pollinating insects with their nectar and pollen. Plant them in cottage gardens, meadow mixes, or container gardens to support bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and hummingbirds.
Growing Cornflowers
For those looking to grow these symbolic flowers themselves, cornflowers are relatively easy to cultivate as annuals. Here are some tips for successfully growing cornflowers from seed:
When to Plant
Sow seeds directly in the garden after the last spring frost date. Cornflowers require full sun and grow best in slightly alkaline soil with pH between 7 and 8.
Planting Depth
Bury seeds at a shallow depth of around 1/4 inch. Deeper planting can inhibit germination. Space seeds or young plants 8-12 inches apart.
Care
Water cornflowers regularly to keep the soil evenly moist. Apply a general purpose fertilizer once or twice during the growing season. Remove spent flowers to prolong blooming.
Companion Planting
Cornflowers pair beautifully with cottage garden favorites like peonies, foxgloves, cosmos, bee balm, sage, and snapdragons.
Pests and Problems
Cornflowers are resistant to most pests and diseases. Proper spacing for air circulation prevents fungal issues. Minimize pest damage by removing affected leaves promptly.
Harvesting
Cut cornflower stems in the cool of morning once flowers are fully open. Place immediately in water. Remove leaves below waterline and re-cut stems every few days.
With their captivating color and form, cornflowers are easy and rewarding to grow in any sunny garden space.
Conclusion
Throughout history, legend, art, and politics, the cornflower has gathered rich and varied symbolic associations. These meanings range from innocence, delicacy, and remembrance to patriotism, life, and imagination. The flower’s vibrant blue color and wild origins resonate across cultures. So while the cornflower represents different things to different people, it ultimately symbolizes the beauty and hope found in everyday nature.