Scabiosa

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Click name to see details: [ Salvia ] [ Saponaria ] [ Saxifraga ] [ Scabiosa ] [ Scutellaria ] [ Sedum ] [ Selinum ] [Seseli] [ Senecio ] [ Solidago ] [ Stipa ] [ Succisella ]

Scabiosa:

Common Name: Scabious, Pincushion Flower.

Feathery, pincushion-like flowers on wiry stems that attract beneficial insects. The plants flower for a long period from Late May onwards. The have feather-shaped mid green leaves. Not fussy about soil except disliking waterlogged conditions, they are drought tolerant. They perform best in sun or light shade and they really don't like wet soils. Dead head regularly to encourage more flowers. Feed each year in spring. Most scabious prefer a limy (alkaline) soil but they do very well in our slightly acid soil here. They won't like very acid soils at all.

Propagation is by removing rooted plantlets (Irishman's cuttings) or division in autumn or spring. Plants do benefit from division every 2 or 3 years. Species types can be propagated from seed, including self-seeding.

Scabiosa canescens: Rare wildflower of northern Europe growing in meadows and mountainous sites. Large pale blue flowers.

Scabiosa caucasica "Blue Perfection": Large, pale blue flowers on wiry stems to about 2ft - 2ft 6in tall. Flowers all summer if kept dead headed. Don't overcrowd when first planted. Doesn't like boggy soils.

As the name suggests this species originates in the Caucasus region.

Scabiosa caucasica "Clive Greaves": Large, mid blue flowers. A great older variety that has proved itself over time. About 2ft tall. Flowers all summer.

RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Scabiosa caucasica Fama

Violet flowers on wiry, sturdy stems. About 2ft tall.

Available from late May 2012.

Scabiosa caucasica Stäfa

Deep blue flowers on wiry, sturdy stems. About 2ft tall.

Scabiosa caucasica White Perfection

Very large, white flowers on wiry stems to about 2ft - 2ft 6in tall. Flowers all summer if kept dead headed. Don't overcrowd when first planted. Doesn't like boggy soils.

Read more about this plant in our garden diary for October 2011.

Scabiosa columbaria f. nana Pincushion Blue

Neat, short plants (hence "form Nana") with lovely lilac blue pincushion flowers all summer. Needs well-drained soil and sun. Prefers lime and hates very acid soils.

Scabiosa columbaria f. nana Pincushion Pink

The pink version of the above. The pink shade has quite an element of blue in it.

Scabiosa columbaria subsp. ochroleuca

Delicate greenish cream pincushions on wiry stems. Excellent in the border to an airy feel and to tone down bright colours - an exceptionally good mixer, except with pure white. 60-75cm tall. Flowers from early summer right through to late autumn if deadheaded.

Pictured in our garden in early autumn with a lovely Comma butterfly, so named because on the underside of its otherwise drab grey wings, it has a small white comma-shaped mark.

This scabious is native to central Europe through to Siberia, growing in high meadows.

The species name columbaria means "dove-like", referring to the feathery petals. The subspecies name means "pale yellow-white".

Scabiosa columbaria subsp. ochroleuca Moon Dance

Compact version of the standard species.. 30cm tall. Similarly long flowering period. (Picture taken on 13th October).

Possibly a trade name for the naturally occurring variety, webbiana.