The cornflower is the traditional national flower of Germany — a brilliant blue wildflower long associated with Prussian and German heritage.

• National flower: The cornflower
• Scientific name: Centaurea cyanus
• Status: Traditional national flower
• Symbolism: hope and Prussian heritage

About Germany’s national flower

The cornflower became a symbol of Germany through its association with Prussia; legend links it to Queen Louise of Prussia, and it was a favorite of Kaiser Wilhelm I. Its intense blue once dotted grain fields across the country, though it has grown scarcer in the wild today.

Symbolism and tradition

The cornflower’s clear blue has made it a recurring symbol in German poetry and Romanticism, representing hope and longing.

National flower of Germany FAQs

What is the national flower of Germany?

The traditional national flower of Germany is the cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), a bright blue wildflower long tied to Prussian and German heritage.

What does Germany’s national flower represent?

The blue cornflower symbolizes hope, and it carries strong historical ties to Prussia and to German romantic tradition.

Why is the cornflower Germany’s flower?

The cornflower is tied to Prussian and German heritage, associated with Queen Louise of Prussia and favored by Kaiser Wilhelm I, which made it a traditional national flower.

Explore more

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