Cephalaria gigantea
Yellow scabious, Giant scabies, Tatarian cephalaria, Tree scabiosa
Also known as Cephalaria tatarica, Cephalaria caucasica
- Height × spread
- 1.8m × 1.2m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This large and elegant plant can reach up to 2m (7ft) in height. The fluffy looking, creamy yellow, cornflower-like flowers are carried on long, slender stems, which bend and sway in the breeze. The arching leaf stems, clad in long, pointed dark green leaflets, make a handsome foliage clump. It is a plant that is much loved by bees and butterflies.
- Flower colour
- Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Stem colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 1.8m
- Spread
- 1.2m
- Season of interest
- Summer
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Poor soil, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Bee attraction, Butterfly attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.