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Pincushion flower with Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly stroke . Photo by : Jennifer Bosvert / Shutterstock
It ’s amazing that a flower as lovely and long - blooming as Scabiosa is n’t a staple in every garden . well known as pincushion flower , this easy - care plant is a top performing artist from late spring into fall , putting on a continuous display of frilly dome - shaped flowers . In meek winter climates , some pincushion flowers will even bloom all year long !
Far too pretty to be confined to garden beds and borders , pincushion bloom also makes a charming accession to container planting , either alone or in mixed arrangement . And if you bonk freshly edit out flower , the seemingly dateless supply of blossom will give you stack of supernumerary to keep your vessel overflowing .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Frequently Asked Questions
BASICS
Botanical name:
Scabiosaspp . and hybrid .
Common name:
Scabious , pincushion flower , sweet-scented scabious
Plant type:
Genus includes both repeated and yearly species
Zones:
Typically 5 - 9 , for perennial types
Exposure:
Full sunlight
Mature size:
12 to 36 inches tall and 10 to 24 inch wide , depend on the miscellanea .
Habit:
Clump - mould substance abuse
Bloom time:
Late fountain until frost
Foliage:
Oblong , pinnately lobate leave may be blue - green to gray - green . Foliage of perennial varieties remains evergreen in mild climates .
Flowers:
Blooms borne on marvelous , wiry stems total in nicety of pinkish , purple , blank , blue , yellow , and burgundy . Each heyday features an outer ring of frilly petals smother a domed pincushion - like centre with protruding stamens that resemble tiny dumbbell .
Special attributes:
Landscape uses:
Borders , people planting , container gardens , cottage garden , cut prime gardens , pollinator garden , andmeadow garden .
PLANTING SCABIOSA
exposure by : MacBen / Shutterstock .
When to plant:
In early natural spring , after the last frost day of the month . In sphere with mild winters , you’re able to also plantScabiosaseeds in late fall for flowers the following season .
Where to plant:
Pincushion flowers will bloom unspoilt in a site that receives full Lord’s Day ( at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily ) , but will appreciate some afternoon shade during the heat of the summer . Because they favour cool conditions , works may struggle if grown in an highly hot , humid climate .
How to plant:
you could plant pincushion flowers from glasshouse organ transplant or seeds . If you choose to develop them from come , commence them indoors under grow lights 4 to 6 weeks before the average last hoarfrost date in your area or sow them directly in the garden after all danger of frost has slip away . Cover the seed with a thin layer of soil ( about 1/4 in deep ) and keep them evenly moist but not waterlogged until the germ germinate .
In the garden , blank space transplants or flimsy seedlings to a spacing of at least 12 inches apart to allow for good air circulation .
Soil:
Prefers well - drained , loamy soil fat in organic matter . Good land drain is essential , since root putrefaction may pass in overly besotted soil . Scabiosaplants are particularly intolerant of soaked grunge during winter and tend to be short - lived .
SCABIOSA CARE
Watering:
Keep your pincushion prime well water during the first year after plant , giving them at least an column inch of water a week . onetime , established plants are more drouth tolerant , but will still apprize regular watering during sustain teetotal magical spell . To prevent root rot , check that the land is well drained and do n’t earmark it to become soggy . Pincushion heyday do n’t like get wet foot .
Amendments and fertilizer:
BecauseScabiosagrows best in fertile , well - draining soil , amend it at planting time withcompostto improve drain and add nutrients , specially if you have heavyclay soil . Also go for a layer of mulch around the antecedent zone of your plants to aid keep the soil moist and insulate the roots from temperature extremes .
Although pincushion flowers are light feeders , a semimonthly program of a balanced fertilizer for blossoming plants will aid keep them blossom throughout the season .
Pruning and deadheading:
To promote raw blooms and keep yourScabiosalooking fresh , remove the spent flowers by nip off the radical down to the basal leaf ( the leaves that maturate from the cornerstone of the plant ) . Pruning is in general not required , unless you want to boost fuller ontogenesis or dispatch dead or damage foliation .
Harvesting flowers:
For the long vase life-time ( a week to 10 days ) , glean your pincushion flowers when they are still in the bud level or just beginning to open . If you ’re harvesting the seedheads for dried flowered organization , cut the seedheads while still fresh and then hang them to dry .
Propagating:
Can be propagated by seed or division . Divide repeated type every 3 to 4 years or whenever they become crowded and bloom production dwindles . The best fourth dimension to part industrial plant is in former give . ( * See note below on broadcast or dividing patent plants . Check your plant life tag for the ® or ™ symbol by the works name . )
Winter care:
For perennial variety show , ignore the stem back to the bottom leaves in the declination and protect plants with a light layer of mulch , such as shred leave , hay , or evergreen boughs . Do not cut back into the basal foliage , which will remain evergreen to semi - evergreen plant for most of the winter . In early saltation , before new increase begins , you may move out any deadened outer leaves .
Pests and diseases:
mostly cuss - resistant and disease - free , although they may yield topowdery mildewduring periods of high-pitched humidity . To help prevent fungal disease , keep off overhead tearing and supply equal spacing between plants .
SCABIOSA VARIETIES
picture by : Proven winner
Flutter ™ Deep Blue — Buy now from Proven WinnersScabiosa columbarium
Zones:5 - 9Height and spread:12 to 14 column inch marvellous and wide
get a profusion of gravid , lilac - risque flowers rising on upright stems above mounds of lacy light-green foliage . A compact stature makes it idealistic for adding season - long colour to container plantings .
Flutter ™ Rose Pink — Buy now from Proven WinnersScabiosa columbaria
Zones:5 - 9Height and spread:12 to 14 inches tall , 10 to 12 inches broad
produce blooms that are great and deeper in color than those ofScabiosa‘Pink Mist ’ , this gaudy pincushion flower is a gorgeous add-on to garden bed and mixed container arrangements . The extinct petals flaunt middling frilly boundary , summate fogginess to the pincushion - similar centers .
Flutter ™ Pure WhiteScabiosa columbaria
This all - white lulu is a everlasting complement to pink , royal , and blue pincushion flower and will thrive when rise in a full Sunday to part shade location with dear drainage . ego - cleansing , it blooms all summer , even without deadheading .
photograph by : Uprising Seeds
' Fata Morgana’Scabiosa atropurpurea
zona : AnnualHeight and spread:24 to 36 in grandiloquent , 24 inches wide
Similar in colour to a ripening lulu , this dainty pincushion blossom is distinguished by creamy xanthous flush with touches of apricot . Because it readily self - sow if allowed to go to source , it is often grown as a biennial or abruptly - lived perennial .
exposure by : Hanna Yohanna / Shutterstock
' Butterfly Blue’Scabiosa columbarium
Zones:5 - 9Height and spread:12 to 18 inches marvelous and wide
Highly attractive to butterflies and bees , this uninventive hybrid produces violent stream of lavender - risque peak from April until frost , have above a succinct mound of finely cut , grayish green leafage . A low - growing habit makes it ideal for the front of the border and edging nerve tract .
Photo by : Debu55y / Shutterstock
' Pink Mist’Scabiosa dovecote
This sis to ‘ Butterfly Blue ’ has many of the same attribute , but instead sports frilly pinkish petals surrounding paler domed centers . Will bloom almost all year in garden with mild winters .
exposure by : Gurcharan Singh / Shutterstock
' Black Knight’Scabiosa atropurpurea
Zones : Annual
Height and spread:24 to 36 inches marvelous , 18 inches across-the-board
The non-white burgundy , nearly black flowers of this annualScabiosaare accentuated by prominent ashen stamens , make it a standout in the garden or a vase . After the flowers fade , they impart behind attractive seedheads that add pursuit to dry flush arrangements .
Photo by : meganchase37 / Shutterstock
' Fama White’Scabiosa caucasica
Zones:3 - 7
Height and spread:1 - 1/2 to 2 feet tall and broad
This standout multifariousness produces large , pristine white blooms with classifiable pale - green centers . Its long root word and robust bloom make it an exceptional choice for excision - efflorescence arrangements . This cultivar thrives in well - drain , impersonal soil and offers extended vase life .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is Scabiosa a perennial or annual?
Scabiosaspecies let in both repeated and annual types . While perennial varieties ( such asS. caucasicaandS. columbaria ) will come back class after year , annual pincushion flowers ( S. atropurpurea ) will require to be replanted each class . However , they may re - source under optimum conditions .
Does Scabiosa bloom all summer?
Yes ! That ’s one of the unspoiled attribute of pincushion prime . During the heat of summer solstice , the blooms may taper off a bit , but they will return in copiousness in other fall when coolheaded weather arrives .
Is Scabiosa hard to grow?
No . As long as you give your pincushion flower enough Lord’s Day , plant it in well - run out land , and pee when ask , this fuss - free works will thrive with very trivial effort .
Can I grow Scabiosa in a hot climate?
Generally , pincushion flowers dislike sweltering heat and humidity and choose the cooler temperatures of early summertime and fall . If you are growing your flora in an domain with particularly hot summers , they will get along well when given some good afternoon tint . For the near success , avoid growing pincushion flowers in a climate outside of its urge USDA hardiness zone .
Should I deadhead pincushion flower?
Diligent deadheading will prolong the bloom of youth period , but sometimes it can be hard to keep up , since an institute plant can produce C of flowers in a season . Do n’t vex . The seedheads are quite attractive and can be entrust in place for ornamental pastime or used in dried flower arrangements .
Does Scabiosa spread?
Some pincushion prime can reseed in the garden , but are not considered to be invasive . If reseeding is a concern , plant a sterile variety , such as ‘ Butterfly gamey ’ .
Does pincushion flower require staking?
Taller varieties have long stalk that tend to flop when laden with blooms , peculiarly when grown in overly racy land . Staking plants or locating them near stout plant that can provide some support will help keep your pincushion flowers upright .
- REGARDING PROPAGATION : When it occur to distribute patented works , there are strict formula in position prohibiting replication or propagation of these plants in any way . This intend you ca n’t reproduce them ( even for use in your own garden ) , deal them , or bring them into the country without permission . The law does not make exception for what some might consider minor infringements . Any unauthorized utilisation of patented plants is considered an misdemeanor .
