Scabiosa columbaria
Small scabious
Also known as Scabiosa dubia, Scabiosa banatica
- Height × spread
- 0.6m × 0.4m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A pretty little perennial with dainty heads of lilac-coloured pincushion flowers. The outer petals are larger, quite long with rounded ends. The large heart of the flower has masses of tiny florets. The flowers are held on long green stems covered in fine hairs. The whole makes a rather untidy spreading foliage clump. The leaves at the base are larger, though this scarcely notices by the time the plant is in flower. This should flower in summer to early autumn. It enjoys alkaline soil and is suited to the front of an informal border or a wild garden.
- Flower colour
- Purple
- Foliage colour
- Blue
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 0.6m
- Spread
- 0.4m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Wild flower meadow, Seaside garden, Gravel garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover, Bee attraction, Butterfly attraction
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- No
AutumnNow
Autumn - late · Planting
Divide every 3 years
Physically divide clumps every three years, or the plant will flower and grow less well. Discard or give away unwanted portions, or replant them to make a larger display. Plants can sometimes take a while to recover from this procedure.
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during drought
In drought conditions where established plants in the ground have had no water for a month, do a deep watering. If drought continues repeat after a fortnight. Plants only need watering during spring to autumn growth. Check plants in pots more often.
Established plants have a good degree of drought tolerance. Water after a prolonged period of drought. Many drought tolerant plants can rapidly revive, even when much of the foliage has died. They will respond with new growth.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Feed a general fertiliser
Where plants have moderate needs for nutrients, they can simply be given a general feed, fairly early in the growth season so that the growth has plenty of time to harden off before the cold weather.
Give plants a general boost with the application of a general purpose fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plant, with amounts as directed on the feed label.
Planting & general
Planting
Deadhead blooms during flowering season
Remove flowers as they turn brown and fade. Snip the stem just below the bloom. This will keep the plant tidy and encourage more flowers.
The removal of spent flowers encourages the plant to produce fresh ones, rather than spend its energy on the development of seeds.
Found in
More Scabiosa
Scabiosa
Pincushion flower, Scabious, Mourning bride
Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue'
Pincushion flower, Scabious, Mourning bride
Scabiosa 'Pink Mist'
Scabious
Scabiosa columbaria 'Blue Note'
Small scabious
Scabiosa 'Barocca'
Scabious
Scabiosa 'Cherry Pie'
Scabious
Scabiosa 'It's a Cracker'
Scabiosa 'Pink Diamonds'
Scabious