Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous
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Soil
Any fertile soil with good drainage.
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Position
Full sun.
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Frost tolerant
Fair. Where winters are mild and the soil does not freeze, established plants may survive one winter.
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Feeding
Mix a standard application of a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil prior to planting.
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Companions
Scabiosa mixes well with many summer flowers including black-eyed susans and petunias.
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Spacing
Single Plants: 11" (30cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 9" (25cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Sow scabiosa seeds indoors in early spring and set seedlings out two weeks before your last spring frost is expected. Transplant carefully, without disturbing the roots.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
Scabiosas make great cut flowers, and many varieties are fragrant. Colors include lavender, pink, rose, dark red, white and soft yellow. Perennial forms are available, but not in the color range of seed-sown annual scabiosa.
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Harvesting
Harvest stems to use as cut flowers as soon as the blossoms open. Clip off old blossoms every week or so to prolong bloom time.
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Troubleshooting
Scabiosa plants may need staking to keep them upright so that the stems do not twist.
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