Cornflower
Parts Usually Used
Flower
Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Cornflower is an annual herb; the thin, stiff, branched stem grows to a height of 12-24 inches and bears narrow, lanceolate leaves, pinnate and lobed near the base and nearly filiform near the top. The large, blue flowers (white or rose-colored in some varieties) appear from June to August.
Where Found
Native to Europe but cultivated in the United States; found in fields, cornfields, roadsides.
Medicinal Properties
Diuretic, tonic, anti-inflammatory, stimulant
Uses
Historically, herbalists employed cornflower for dyspepsia and cosmetic applications. Traditional practitioners prepared the flowers as an eyewash, eyedrops, and ocular compresses. Folk traditions also utilized the plant in the belief that it had calming qualities.
Bibliography
The Herb Book , by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974. , Pantheon Books, Knopf Publishing Group, New York, 1994, first edition The Magic of Herbs , by David Conway, published by Jonathan Cape, Thirty Bedford Square, London, England. , 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023