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Herb library · Herb · Centaurea cyanus

Cornflower

The bright blue wildflower of European grain fields, whose petals color tea blends. In folk medicine it was best known as an eyewash; it has not been studied in people.

Traditional use

Once an abundant weed of European grain fields, now declining. A 2022 review of Hungarian writings from 1578 to 2021 found it was most often used for inflamed eyes, and that it was woven into harvest festivals and religious processions and stood in folk art for tenderness and faithfulness. Its dried petals are also sold for color in tea blends.

What studies show

No studies in people of this herb on its own yet. What is known of it comes from the traditions that use it.

  • Insufficient

    Eye irritation: no study of cornflower in people was found. A 1999 lab and animal study reported anti-inflammatory effects of the flower heads.

Be careful of

Cautions

  • NoteDo not put homemade flower infusions in your eyes: they are not sterile. See a clinician for red, painful or sticky eyes.
  • AllergyCornflower is in the daisy family; people allergic to ragweed, chamomile or other daisy-family plants may react to it.
  • PregnancyNo safety information for pregnancy or breastfeeding was found; avoid medicinal use then.
  • Ask a clinicianTalk with a clinician or pharmacist before using this if you take prescription medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are giving it to a child.

Sources

  1. Anti-inflammatory and immunological effects of Centaurea cyanus flower-heads (J Ethnopharmacol, 1999) — PubMed record (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
  2. Iconic Arable Weeds: The Significance of Corn Poppy, Cornflower and Field Larkspur in Hungarian Ethnobotanical and Cultural Heritage (Plants, 2022) — PubMed record (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026

Reviewed September 25, 2026.