Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
IN THIS GUIDE
- Annual Scabiosa
- Perennial Scabiosa
- 1) S. triandra
- 2) S. graminifolia
- 3) S. farinosa
- 4) S. atropurpurea ‘Black Knight’
- 5) S. caucasica ‘Miss Willmott’
- 6) S. atropurpurea ‘Chile Black’
- 7) S. caucasica ‘Fama White’
- 8) S. purpurea ‘Ebony and Ivory Mixed’
- 9) S. atropurpurea ‘Fire King’
- 10) S. columbaria ‘Flutter Rose Pink’
- 11) S. columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’
- 12) S. caucasica ‘Fama Deep Blue’
Almost all Scabiosa species and varieties are upright herbaceous plants.
Before sharing some of our favourites, it’s worthwhile bearing in mind that there are some significant differences between perennial and annual Scabiosa types:
Annual Scabiosa
Scabiosa atropurpurea and its varieties are annuals though they often self-seed.
Their flowers are a little smaller than those of S. caucasica but have a wider variety of colours and hues, including purples and crimson.
As a general rule, S. atropurpurea varieties’ flowers’ colours range from purples to crimsons through near black.
S. atropurpurea varieties in the main have a bushy habit.
Perennial Scabiosa
S. caucasica and its varieties are perennials.
Their flowers come in fewer colours than S. atropurpurea varieties but they are up to 8cm across.
S. caucasica and many of its varieties have a clumping or mat-forming habit.
Perhaps counterintuitively, varieties of S. atropurpurea (which are annuals) reach heights of 85cm to 1m whereas varieties of S. caucasica (which are perennials) reach heights of 30-50cm.
Underneath we present an even dozen Scabiosa varieties which include both species and hybrids, and a fantastic range of colours from white through near-black.
1) S. triandra
A Southern European species whose leaves are bright green and linear, among the narrowest in Scabiosa species.
The rounded bloom is a gentle shade of lilac and adding to its charms is its scent which is very attractive to bees and butterflies.
Its longish flowering season runs from June through September.
2) S. graminifolia
Also native to Southern Europe, and its linear leaves are so long and narrow that their shape coupled and the plant’s clumping habit combine to make this species resemble a patch of grass!
The colour of the solitary and spaced-apart flowers, which exhibit the characteristic pincushion, is the palest and gentlest tone of lilac.
3) S. farinosa
Native to the South-Western part of Africa.
It is a long-lived herbacious perennial that often develops woody stems.
Though a 60cm tall perennial, it has a mounding habit.
Its pincushion flowers attract large numbers of butterflies and bees, and are of a pale, delicate tone of pink or purple, and are not infrequently virtually white.
4) S. atropurpurea ‘Black Knight’
Flowers from June through August, and its thrilling flower draws butterflies, bees, and birds.
But it will also draw and hold human eyes by virtue of its deep maroon hue, verging on black in the centre on some blooms.
The white ‘pins’ in the maroon ‘pincushion’ make for a stunning contrast.
“S. atropurpurea ‘Black Knight’ is the Scabiosa that I grow most often,” shares Colin Skelly, a Master Horticulturist.
“I find that it combines well with grasses and other perennials in naturalistic plantings. It really is great for pollinators and great for the human eye, creating little jewels of colour.”
5) S. caucasica ‘Miss Willmott’
Bears flowers that can have an irregular or ragged appearance.
They are among the largest of all Scabiosa with many blooms between 7-8cm across.
The shade varies from a Pearl White through Creamy White to Pure White.
It is a recipient of the RHS’s Award of Garden Merit.
6) S. atropurpurea ‘Chile Black’
Has lovely bright bluish-green foliage and bears flowers on erect, long stalks.
This variety produces profuse blooms, they have that classic pincushion shape, they have a wonderful scent, and as for the colour, it is truly striking as it ranges from maroon to a startling black.
7) S. caucasica ‘Fama White’
A clumping variety that bears flowers on long, upright stalks.
These are double flowers that often present a pleasing, symmetrical appearance.
Outliers in size, blooms can reach even 9cm.
The flowers are pure white and often the stamens too are pure white (though sometimes they are cream-yellow) giving the flower a two-toned appearance.
8) S. purpurea ‘Ebony and Ivory Mixed’
Having presented two near-black and two white varieties, we may as well do both black and white in one shot.
The flower has the dome-like shape shared by many S. purpurea varieties but among all flowerdom, this is surely one of the most remarkable varieties because one and the same plant produces maroon-black and white blooms side by side, delivering awesome visual impact.
This one is a ‘talking point’ in the garden.
9) S. atropurpurea ‘Fire King’
A real visual delight.
The foliage of this bushy plant is a deep lush green which is the perfect backdrop to the dramatic bloom.
Exhibiting a perfect disk and ‘dome,’ the florets have somewhat thicker than usual lobes, and the hue is a rich shade of crimson to burgundy that is a stunning complement to the foliage.
10) S. columbaria ‘Flutter Rose Pink’
A dwarf variety that reaches only 35cm and is of a mounding, bushy habit.
However, it’s all about the flowers with this variety.
It has both a long flowering season, blooming all summer long, and a delightful propensity to bloom profusely.
Topping it off are the flowers, which are more radially-shaped than most, and of a charming baby pink hue.
11) S. columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’
Also quite a short variety with fern-like foliage and a mounding habit.
It too boasts a very long flowering season and also blooms profusely.
Its flowers attract even more butterflies and bees than other varieties.
The small, 5cm flower is fuller with more densely packed florets than ‘Flutter Rose Pink’ and is of a lavender hue tending to blue.
12) S. caucasica ‘Fama Deep Blue’
Another ‘Fama’ variety with flowers that are similarly symmetrical, and similarly shaped and sized as ‘Fama White’ described above but with a couple of differences.
This variety attracts butterflies and bees like there’s no tomorrow.
As for the obvious difference, its colour is usually purple but sometimes an astonishing true blue colour of an azure tone.
