Description
Scabiosa – Pincushion – Scabious –
There are 80 annuals, biennials, and perennials, in the Dipsacales family, in this genus. They are found naturally occurring from Sunny site, dry meadows, and rocky slopes, mostly in the Mediterranean region, but also in the rest of Europe, the Caucasus, Africa, Asia, and Japan. They have mainly basal leaves, which are simple and smooth edged or lobed, pinnatifid or pinnatisect, and bear compound or solitary, blue, white, yellow, or pink flowers with domed, pincushion like centers, some have a honey scent. The smaller perennials species are ideal for a rock garden, while the taller ones are suitable for a sunny herbaceous or mixed border, or wild garden, the annuals are excellent in borders. Long flowering species and cultivars are ideal for window boxes or containers on a patio. Many are also good for cutting. All are attractive to bees and butterflies.
Grow in moderately fertile, well drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil in full sun. Protect from excessive winter moisture. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Divide and replant perennials in spring in fresh or replenished soil every 3 years.
Prone to larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Grey pug and six-spot Burnet moth.
S. atropurpurea – Pincushion Flower – Sweet Scabious – This erect, branching, wiry stemmed annual or short lived perennial is form Southern Europe and grows 18-36″ tall and 9″ wide. It produce mid green leaves, to 5″ long: the basal leaves are oblong-spoon shaped and smooth or coarsely toothed, the stem leaves are pinnatifid, composed of smooth or toothed segments. From summer through to early fall it bears solitary, domed shaped, fragrant, dark purple to lilac flowers, to 2″ wide.
Zones 4-11
