The Scabiosa or Pin Cushion Flower, true lavender blue color...

The image above, the Scabiosa, was taken from my garden July 25, 2009

About The Scabiosa

The Scabiosa or Pin Cushion Flower, true lavender blue flowers and continuous color in the flowerbed garden all summer. In all of my previous gardens I always included the Pin Cushion Flower. By the way, the flower really does look like a pin cushion, hence the name.

There are many reasons to plant this long blooming perennial. As long as you keep deadheading the spent blooms, it will continue blooming, right until frost. Mine started to bloom late June and continued until late September.

Although some might find that the stems are floppy (they are long and slender)...I like the way it looks. I always say that every plant has a place in the garden, you just have to find it...and for me I plant the Pin Cushion as an edging plant for my flowerbed gardens.

The leaves are a gray-green and the blooms lighten as they age and each flower lasts for a very long time. By the time September rolls around I counted at least 80 blooms with many more buds left to open (from 3 plants).

How To Grow The Scabiosa

While this perennial does enjoy and grow better in a full sun location, it does tolerate some shade as evident in my garden where it receives half day shade. Make sure to add some organic material when planting to ensure a well drained soil.

The bees in my garden are 'in love' with this perennial plant and in any given day at least 20 buzz about my head as I deadhead the spent blooms.

When snipping the spent blooms, cut the stem right to the crown of the plant. Don't just cut off the heads as you will be left with headless sticks.

Garden pests (bugs) do not bother this perennial and so far neither to the rabbits and deer.

Companion plants could be: Dusty Miller , Ageratum Blue hawaii or the Geranium Rozanne .

Check out my Site Index Page for a listing of additional annuals and perennials to plant in your flower garden design.

Scabiosa Features

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