Scabious

Plant family

Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae)

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Dry

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Light germinator

Germination temperature

18 - 20 °C (Degrees Celsius)

Plant distance

30 cm

Row spacing

30 cm

Seeding depth

0.5 cm

Instructions

Mid of April

Pricking

Description

The scabiosa (Scabiosa) is a plant genus in the subfamily of the card family (Dipsacoideae) within the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae). The approximately 100 species of the genus Scabiosa originally occur in temperate Eurasia, from Macaronesia to North Africa and from Eritrea to southern Africa. In some states of the USA and in some countries of South America, species of the genus Scabiosa occur as neophytes. Around 20 species are found in Europe. Scabiosa is also known as the widow's flower or grindweed. Beware of confusion: the same synonyms also apply to the genus Knautia. Scabioses are annual or perennial herbaceous plants. They rarely become woody at the base. The plants reach growth heights of 20 to 60 centimeters. The stems are not angular but round and have no spines, and many scabiosa species do not go completely into the ground in winter but survive with overwintering buds. Most species are hardy. Annual scabious species often self-seed. The opposite leaves are undivided to pinnate. They often form non-flowering rosettes. In many species, the basal leaves are slightly hairy. Depending on the species, scabious bloom from June to late fall. The color palette of the flowers ranges from white to red, pink and purple to blue. Butterflies, bees and other insects pollinate the pretty flowers. The flowers are in broad, long-stemmed head-shaped inflorescences surrounded by one to three rows of bracts. The flowers are hermaphrodite with a double perianth. The calyx usually ends in four to five bristles or teeth. The corolla is unevenly five-lobed. The marginal flowers are radiate. The fruits are nut-like, cylindrical, single-seeded, closed fruits with eight furrows. Scabiosa plants are grateful perennials. Numerous species of scabiosa are cultivated and are popular ornamental plants. They are suitable for rock gardens, perennial beds and borders as well as meadows. These undemanding perennials are ideal for combining with other plants. Together with soapwort, ornamental grasses or cornflowers, they form enchanting flowerbed compositions. The distinctive plants fit wonderfully into natural gardens or cottage gardens. The plants are also popular as cut and dried flowers.

Growing tips

🌱 Pre-cultivation - From the beginning/mid-March - From April in an unheated cold frame - Fine, well-drained sowing soil - No heavily fertilized soil (scabiosas like it rather lean) - Only press seeds lightly (light germinator) - Germination temperature: 18-20 °C - Germination time: 7-14 (21) days - Evenly slightly moist, never wet. - Keep cooler after germination (approx. 12-15 °C) - Plenty of light - Prick out when 2-3 true leaves are present - Harden off: end of April/beginning of May - Plant in the bed after the last frosts - Planting distance: 25-35 cm 🌼 Direct sowing - Direct sowing: from April/May - Press seeds only lightly (light germinator) - Planting distance: 25-35 cm, depending on variety 🌞 Location - Full sun - the more sun, the more flowers - Airy, but not draughty - Ideal for flower beds, natural gardens, dry beds and as a cut flower 🌱 Soil - Well-drained, rather poor to normally nutrient-rich - Slightly moist, no waterlogging - Work in sand or fine gravel 💧 Care - Water moderately - Allow the top layer to dry out between waterings - Remove faded leaves regularly - Lightly fertilize in early summer 🌾 Overwintering - Annual varieties die back - Perennial species (e.g. Scabiosa caucasica) are usually hardy: ◦ light winter protection from leaves or brushwood ◦ good drainage in winter 🐝 Insect magnet Scabiosas are extremely popular with bees, butterflies and hoverflies - perfect for natural gardens. 🌼 Good neighbors - Yarrow, catnip, lavender, sage - Magnificent candle, echinacea, girl's eye - Feather grass, love grass, blue fescue - Verbena, oregano, thyme - Tomatoes, peppers & chili, zucchini & pumpkin - Beans, peas - Garlic & onions - Carrots, beet - Summer lilac, dog rose, wild roses - Sea buckthorn, rock pear, currants & gooseberries 🚫 Bad neighbors - Astilbe, funkia, ferns, ragwort - Phlox, delphinium, mint, goldenrod - Woodruff, fairy flower, heuchera - Salads, cabbages, celery, spinach & chard, cucumbers - Hydrangeas, rhododendrons & azaleas, privet - Willows, dogwood 🦠 Common diseases - Powdery mildew - Root rot - Leaf spot diseases 🐛 Typical pests - Aphids - snails - thrips - Caterpillars