How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Scabiosa

If you need more bees and butterflies or whimsical plants in your summer garden, consider growing scabiosa! Also known to gardeners as the pincushion flower, this sometimes perennial plant has a dainty look that fits into most landscapes but is also wild enough to be included in wildflower mixes.

Scabiosa blooms will first appear in late spring atop wiry stems. They last through the early summer, and even into early fall until the first frost. Scabiosa plants are drought-tolerant and easy to care for, making them a plant-and-forget option in many areas!

Our guide will tell you everything you need to know about growing a beautiful scabiosa plant in your garden. They’re beautiful as they dot your landscape. They’re resistant to a lot of insects and drought. The bee species and butterflies will thank you for summer food, too!

What is Scabiosa?

The genus Scabiosa (the botanical name for the pincushion flower) is full of flowers in the honeysuckle family, with several varieties of pincushion flowers that mostly look similar in shape, if not color.

Annual flowers tend to be a bit smaller than perennial varieties, but they all have flat flower heads that attract bees and other pollinators, like hummingbirds and Lepidoptera. 

Native Area

All pincushion species are native to eastern Europe, western Asia, the Mediterranean, and eastern Africa. The wiry stems of scabiosa emerge in a landscape from a clump of shallow roots. They have thin, rough foliage that gives them the name “scabiosa”, the Latin word for scabies – this refers to the scratchy texture of the leaves! 

In the western parts of North America, the plant has naturalized and is sometimes considered invasive. Ensure it is not before planting in your region.

Characteristics

Both annual and perennial varieties of pincushion flowers have white stamens. They can be found in almost any color. Annuals are more commonly purple, pink, and maroon, while perennial varieties are often lavender, blue, and white. Mixing them up in your garden for a little late-spring variety isn’t a bad thing!

Because the bloom period for this flower is so long, it’s a great source of food for pollinators, specifically butterflies. Bees are also very attracted to the blue and lavender varieties. The pincushion flower has a flat shape that makes it easy for bees and butterflies to land on all summer long. These unique shapes and the wiry foliage add interest to the garden.

Most pincushion flower plants can grow in USDA zones 4-9 from spring until the first fall frost, but some, like Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’ and Scabiosa ‘Pink Mist’, are more tolerant of cold temperatures and can grow in zone 3. Other varieties, like Scabiosa ‘Beaujolais Bonnets’, can’t get enough summer heat and can grow up to zone 11.

Because the attractive Scabiosa atropurpurea plants are such adamant self-seeders, they are considered invasive in California. Therefore, if you’re gardening there, you may want to forego planting Scabiosa atropurpurea, although Scabiosa columbaria is quite welcome and often used in its place. 

Varieties

If you are looking for a pincushion to add to your garden, but you don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered. Here is a list of a few of the most popular varieties that gardeners love. Remember that those planted in non-native areas could become invasive. 

Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black Knight’

This pincushion has an interestingly-colored bloom that is a deep maroon to almost black. It’s an annual, self-seeding species that provide a bloom in the garden that butterflies will flock to.

The plant itself grows two to three feet tall, and supports are needed to keep the stems upright. You can get ‘Black Knight’ seeds at Botanical Interests, one of the few seed companies that carry this variety.

Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’

The attractive blue petals of this perennial plant are not only butterfly attractants, but they also bring in hummingbirds. It’s slightly smaller than the last variety we covered, at a stature that reaches about 18 inches height. Forget pink! Start planting these blue flowers. 

Scabiosa columbaria ‘Flutter Pink Rose’

Okay, maybe don’t forget pink! This perennial dwarf variety attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Plant these 12-inch tall plants directly in the landscape or dapple the garden with containers filled with pink pincushions atop slender stems. 

Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Purple Pincushion’

Similar to ‘Butterfly Blue’, the light lavender-purple petals of this annual cultivar are perfect for feeding hummingbirds and different types of butterflies. With long, slender stems that need staking from time to time, the attractive pin-head of this Scabiosa atropurpurea cultivar’s common name comes from its lovely violet-blue petals. 

Planting

Scabiosa is best grown from seed. Select a sunny location with well-drained soil and prepare the soil by loosening it to a depth of about 12 inches and incorporating organic matter, such as compost, to improve drainage and fertility.

Sow seeds directly in the garden in early spring, or start them indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost date. Cover the seeds lightly with soil and water gently. Keep the soil consistently moist until germination, which typically occurs within seven to fourteen days.

If planting nursery-grown transplants, space them 12-18 inches apart to allow for good air circulation. Once established, scabiosa require minimal care.

How to Grow

Attractive scabiosa is one of the flowering plants that are beginner friendly since they don’t need a whole bunch of TLC to thrive through the summer season to the first frost in fall. Plenty of sun, enough moisture, and low humidity will give you an abundance of pincushion flowers!

Light

Scabiosas love the summer sun, so they’ll need full sun exposure with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. If you’re growing a pincushion flower variety that’s better suited for cooler temperatures, give them some afternoon shade. Full sun in a humid climate is important, as they aren’t fans of humidity.

Water

If you’re new to growing scabiosa pincushion flowers, you may find moisture to be a challenge, especially if you’re in a humid climate.

When growing in an area that receives consistent rain in early spring, you likely won’t need to water your flowers unless you’re in a dry spell. If you rarely get rain, watering once per week so they receive one inch of water will be enough to keep your plants happy.

Too much water will increase the likelihood of problems like root rot in this drought-resistant plant and may cause your scabiosa pincushion flower to die back. This is especially true in hot, humid climates. Be sure that your flowers – wherever you live – have well-draining soil to prevent puddles.

Soil

Scabiosa pincushion flower grows well in average soil but will look its best when you provide plenty of organic matter to the soil profile. Plant them in a flower garden that has plenty of compost and leaves mixed into the soil for the best results.

Choose soil that is loamy or sandy, and avoid heavy clay soil. The scabiosa genus has shallow root systems that need light soils, so it’s easy for them to grow and receive water. Loose soil is also important for drainage. Avoid potting soils with extra water retention unless you intend to skip watering pretty often.

Scabiosas like a slightly alkaline soil pH of 6.0-8.0 and are quite tolerant of a neutral pH, so you should be able to plant them almost anywhere.

Temperature

The ideal temperature is 55-65°F (13-18°C), but they are tolerant of hot and cold temperatures in the fall and winter seasons for short periods.

A hot mid-summer day or a chilly spring evening won’t kill them off, but keep an eye on the forecast to ensure the extreme temperatures don’t stick around for too long! Providing a little afternoon shade on the hottest days helps, too.

Scabiosa is sensitive to frost and freezing temperatures in early spring and excessive heat and humidity in early summer and mid-summer. Cool temperatures in the late spring aren’t the worst, though you may find that plants exposed to cold weather early on will flower sooner than those that weren’t.

Fertilizing

Scabiosa flowers only need fertilizer if your soil’s health is severely lacking. A fresh layer of compost every now and then should be enough in average soil, but a monthly refresh would be better in poor soils.

You can use an all-purpose or flower fertilizer if you don’t have any compost. Choose a balanced option. Apply liquid fertilizers once per month, and slow-release fertilizers once in the spring for early summer blooms.

Maintenance

The wiry stems of pincushions don’t really need to be pruned, but doing so will help it last longer. Remove spent blooms in early fall to promote new growth so you can have flowers all season long. 

Since the small flowers are self-seeding, they can potentially become invasive, so remove flowerheads before they go to seed so you can keep your scabiosa population under control. The blooms make great cut flowers; you can use their lavender-blue color to offset bright yellows and oranges.

Perennial types may need to be separated and planted elsewhere every few years to ensure they have good airflow and adequate growing conditions. Let’s talk about this more in the next section!

Propagation

The best way to propagate annual and perennial varieties is through seed germination. You can save seeds to be planted next year, or you can allow them to self-seed. Self-seeding is when spent flowerheads drop seeds, and the seeds stay on the ground all winter and germinate in the early spring. Similarly, seeds can be started indoors two weeks before the last frost date.

As mentioned in the last section, you can divide perennial clumps of flowers every two to four years in early spring or fall. Replant these clumps in pots, flower beds, rock gardens, or anywhere else to get a brand-new plant that will last you a while!

Not only does this give you new scabiosa, but it also reduces the risk of your existing ones developing diseases due to lack of airflow and crowding.

Common Problems

Pincushion flowers really only give you problems if growing conditions aren’t right, like too much water or not enough full sun. These flowers and foliage are deer-resistant and generally resistant to insects and diseases, making them many gardeners’ favorites.

Growing Problems

If your scabiosa has plenty of nutrients, lots of sunshine, and appropriate water levels, but you don’t see many flowers bloom in late spring, you might need to deadhead spent blooms as soon as they die, and you’ll see new growth in no time. These will not produce new flowers on stems that have already flowered, so snip the stem off just above a leaf node to keep your plant tidy.

Scabiosa has long stems that are thin and wiry. Occasionally, you might see them falling over, which means they need to be staked or given some support.

Dry and crunchy stem leaves are usually a sign of underwatering, and yellow or brown foliage and squishy stems are a sign of overwatering. If you stick your finger in the ground and the top one to two inches are bone dry, it’s time to water.

Pests

Scabiosa may be subjected to the pests your other plants are attracting. Aphids and whiteflies both suck the sap out of stems and leaves and can cause your flowers to have yellowing foliage, which starts to die. Spider mites create fine webbing on stems and leaves. The easiest way to get rid of these is to wash them off with water. You can also use neem oil to suffocate them.

Slugs and snails eat up scabiosa quickly, so if you notice slug damage, act fast! The most effective way to get rid of them is to pick them off. If you think they’re gross, wear some gloves, or set a trap with beer or organic slug bait. Slugs are nocturnal, so wait until it’s dark outside and go slug hunting with a flashlight.

Diseases

Most diseases are caused by excess moisture, so the best way to prevent them is to space out scabiosas so they don’t touch and don’t get too much water. Water at the base and avoid getting the foliage wet. If you’re in a humid climate, give your scabiosa plenty of sunlight to counter all the moisture.

Fungal diseases are most likely what you’ll be dealing with.

Botrytis blight is a grey fungal problem. The early stages of the fungi look greyish, but it can eventually cause tan, translucent patches on leaves. Water at the base and ensure it has good airflow to prevent botrytis from forming on the foliage. Prune off infected tissue and destroy it to prevent any spread.

Powdery mildew looks like a white powder on the leaves. Like botrytis, this is fungal in origin, and similar prevention methods work for this. Neem oil can sometimes eliminate light infections of powdery mildew, but usually removing the infected foliage and treating the rest of the plant with neem oil is more effective. With both this and botrytis, clean tools and hands between touching diseased material and healthy material to prevent fungal spore spread.

Too much water in the soil causes crown rot and root rot, which are soil-borne fungal diseases. Be sure your soil readily drains excess water and that it doesn’t pool up on the surface. If grown in pots, make sure the container has drainage holes. Planting on a slight hill in the garden has advantages for these perennials. Allow the soil to dry completely between waterings if you tend to be generous with water, and don’t water if it recently rained.

Frequently Asked Questions