Scabiosa

This is a partial listing to include the perennial members of the Scabiosa genus that are commonly used in landscaping. Many of these equal or exceed most annual bedding plants for continuous bloom making them highly valuable. They are also valuable for attracting butterflies. Fast growing, well grown plants may quadruple in size in their second year.
Scabiosa plants are not usually eaten by deer.

Scabiosa alpina ( Dwarf Pincushion Flower )
A low, mounding, rock garden perennial, reaching up to 8 inches x 1 foot.
It is sometimes grown as an edging plants.
The foliage is gray-green and the pincushion flowers are purplish-blue.
The flowers are borne late spring to late summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 9

Scabiosa caucasica ( Caucasian Pincushion Flower )
A semi-evergreen perennial, reaching a maximum size of 40 x 32 inches ( usually much shorter ), that is native to the Caucasus Mountains in western Asia.
The divided, narrow leaves, up to 6 inches in length, are bright green.
The flat, pale-blue ( with yellowish-green center ) flowers, up to 3.2 inches across, are borne early summer to mid-autumn.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in full sun on well drained soils. It does not like sites that are excessively wet during summer or winter and blooms much better in cool summer climates ( use Scabiosa columbaria cultivars in the southeast U.S. instead ).

* photo taken on May 15 2011 in Columbia, MD


'Clive Greaves'
Abundant, large, rich lavender-blue flowers.

'Fama'
Reaches a maximum size of 3 feet x 32 inches, bearing flowers that are deeper blue than the species all summer long.

'Fama Dark Blue'
Similar to 'Fama' but with even deeper blue flowers.

'Floral Queen'
Vigorous with rich lavender-blue flowers.

'Issac House'
Reaches up to 2.5 feet in height, with flowers of various shades of color.

'Kompliment'
Reaches up to 2 feet with large, deep lavender-blue flowers borne on sturdy stems all summer long.

'Miss Willmott'
Tall with creamy-white flowers.

'Moonbeam Blue'
Deep blue flowers.

'Perfecta'
Reaches up to 3 feet with shaggy, blue daisies all summer long.

'Perfecta Alba'
Reaches up to 3.5 feet with shaggy, white daisies all summer long.

Scabiosa columbaria ( Pincushion Flower, Scabiosa )
A perennial, reaching a maximum size of 3 x 3 feet, that is native to Eurasia.
The foliage is gray-green. The basal leaves are usually entire and the stem leaves pinnate. The stems are hairy.
The flowers, up to 3.2 inches across, are light blue with deep purplish central bristles. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. This is among the longest blooming of all temperate climate perennials, and plants grown in mild climates have been recorded to bloom nearly all year during years where winter only brings light or no frost. In more severe climates, blooming will typically begin during late spring and end with the first hard frost during autum.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 ( use mulch during winter and plant on protected site in zone 3 ) in full sun on light, fertile, well drained soil. Tolerant of drought, soil PH and urban conditions but does not like heavy clay that is poorly drained and wet, especially during winter. This plant is not generally bothered by pests or disease. Generally very easy to grow. Plants are deadheaded ( cutting off finished blooms ) and watered well perform better in terms of continuous bloom. Plants are generally cut back in preparation for winter during late autumn.
Blooming is heavier and plants are most vigorous if plants are fed a 10-10-10 or 15-15-15 during early spring then again during early summer then fed with bonemeal during early autumn to encourage root growth.
Propagation is generally from division. In fact these plants grow most vigorously if divided every 3 years during early spring. You can then supply the entire neighborhood with these cheerful plants.
The cultivars below are excellent as perennial replacements for summer bedding plants. They are also great for containers, for the urban setting or townhouse garden. Often 'Butterfly Blue' and 'Pink Mist' are planted together.

'Butterfly Blue'
Reaches up to 28 inches x 3 feet ( record height 3 feet ) with profuse, lavender-blue flowers, up to 3 inches across, borne from late spring until autumn frosts.
A single plant may bear hundreds of flowers in a season.
Hardy zones 3 to 9

* photo taken on May 15 2011 in Washington, D.C.

* photos taken on May 23 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 26 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 9 2024 in Elkridge, MD

'Flutter Pure White'
Moderate growing and compact in habit, reaching up to 1.2 x 1.4 feet in size.
The foliage is mid-green. The leaves are up to 5.6 x 2 inches in size.
The pure white flowers, up to 1.9 inches wide, appear all summer long.

* patent photo

'Giant Blue'
Similar to 'Butterfly Blue' but slightly more vigorous and having the largest flowers of any Scabiosa.

'Pink Mist'
The pink equivalent of 'Butterfly Blue'. Reaches up to 2 x 3 feet ( record height 3 feet ) with abundant, pink flowers, up to 3 inches across, borne from late spring until autumn frosts.
A single plant may bear hundreds of flowers in a season.
Hardy zones 3 to 9

* photos taken on May 10 2011 in Columbia, MD



Scabiosa graminifolia
A mat-forming, woody based perennial, reaching a maximum size of 20 x 20 inches, that is native to southern Europe.
The grassy, linear leaves are hairy silvery-gray.
The flowers, up to 2 inches across, are pale purplish-pink.
Hardy zones 4 to 7

'Pinkushion'
Pink flowers

Scabiosa japonica var. alpina (Alpine Japanese Pincushion Flower)
A perennial, reaching up to 8 x 12 inches in size, that is native to mountains of Japan.
The attractive, deeply-cut, ferny foliage is gray-green.
The lavender-blue flowers, up to 2 inches wide, are borne early summer into early autumn.
Hardy zone 4 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on just about any well drained soil.

Scabiosa lucida
A perennial, reaching up to 15 x 15 inches in size, that is native to mountains of Europe.
The violet-blue flowers are borne early summer into early autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on just about any well drained soil..

Scabiosa ochroleuca ( Yellow Scabiosa )
A short-lived perennial reaching a maximum size of 3 x 3 ( rarely over 2 ) feet, that is native to central Europe to western Russia; south to the Mediterranean Sea.
The pinnately-lobed leaves are silvery.
The pale-yellow flowers, up to 1.6 inches across, are borne early summer to early autumn. It is recommended to cut back plants during mid July then fertilize again to encourage a strong rebloom which may last until autumn frost.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun on well drained soil. Propagation is from seed and it often self seeds.

Scabiosa 'Samantha's Pink'
A perennial, reaching a maximum size of 20 inches x 1.5 feet, with a compact mound of gray-green foliage up to 6 inches high.
The large, double, mid-pink flowers, up to 2 inches across are borne late spring to autumn frost. Plants often bloom up to 9 months and sometimes more, in temperate climates.

RELATED PLANTS

Cephalaria tatarica ( Giant Scabiosa )
Also called C. gigantea. A well branched, upright, clumping perennial, reaching a maximum size of 12 x 6.5 ( rarely over 7 ) feet, that is native to Asia from the Caucasus to Siberia.
The deeply-lobed leaves are up to 18 inches in length. The coarse foliage is mid-green.
The pale yellow flowers, up to 2.3 inches wide, are borne during early summer, sometimes lasting into early autumn. The flowers resemble that of Scabiosa.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on fertile, moist, well drained soil. It is pest and disease free. Pinching during late spring will result in a more bushy, compact plant, otherwise it may need staking.

Knautia arvensis ( Field Scabiosa )
A clumping perennial, reaching up to 3.3 feet, that is native from Europe to Siberia, south to central Asia. It is usually found in meadows on sandy or gravelly soils, especially limestone. It may become invasive on some sites.
The foliage is gray-green.
The lilac-pink flowers appear during mid to late summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 6 in full sun on well drained soils. It despises clay.

* photos taken on Aug 22 2021 in Bayfield, ON

* photo taken on Aug 15 2024 in Kincardine, ON

Knautia macedonica ( Crimson Scabious )
A fast growing, bushy perennial, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 5 ( rarely over 3 ) feet, that is native from southeast Romania; south to Albania.
The pinnately-lobed leaves are mid-green.
The double, rich dark red flowers, up to 2 inches across, are borne over a long season from early summer to early autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 7 in full sun on just about any well drained soil. It may be short-lived where summers are extremely hot. Deer resistant. Propagation is from seed or division.

* photos taken on Aug 1 2013 @ Stratford, Ontario

'Thunder and Lightning'
Dwarf and compact in habit, reaching up to 15 x 18 inches, with bright green foliage that is boldly margined creamy-white. The double flowers are rich deep-red.

* photo taken on June 4 2012 in Columbia, MD