Scabiosa
Pincushion flower, Scabious, Mourning bride
- Height × spread
- 0.2m – 0.9m × 0.2m – 0.6m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Generally available in late Spring & Summer
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
Informal and delightful, the pincushion flowers of Scabious are a cottage garden staple. The plants are generally easy going, and some verge on the untidy in their growth habit. The flowers are in shades of white, pink, and bluish shades. There are very near black forms now available (Scabiosa 'Chile Black' for example,) that can make a stylish contribution to the garden. These plants flower for a long period in summer, and ground hugging forms for the rock garden can be grown as well as more substantial forms up to a metre or more in height.
- Flower colour
- Black, Blue, Cream, Lilac, Pink, Purple, Red, Violet, White
- Foliage colour
- Blue, Green, Grey
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell, Column, Cube, Dome, Fan
- Height
- 0.2m – 0.9m
- Spread
- 0.2m – 0.6m
- Season of interest
- Spring, 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, Clay, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, some are not hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover, Bedding plant, 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 in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
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
Outdoors
Water some varieties differently
Some plants within this genus have additional requirements for water. It is best to look up your specific plant, or the species it belongs to for watering guidance.
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 '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
Scabiosa 'Vivid Violet'
Scabious