Scabiosa stellata

RHS Plant Profile
starflower scabious

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Scabiosa stellata?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
starflower scabious RHS

Other common names

drumstick scabious

Synonyms

Scabiosa stellata

Plants for pollinators
Annual Biennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
2 Suppliers

An erect, branching annual up to 45cm tall, with lance-shaped or pinnately lobed leaves. Solitary, pale blue, spherical flower heads to 3cm across, are followed by papery, silvery cream seed-heads

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Caprifoliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
A genus of over 60 flowering perennial and annual flowering plants with grey-green to green lance-shaped, lobed or divided leaves and pincushion-shaped lavender, blue or white flowers
Name Status
Synonym
Plant Range
SW Europe, N Africa

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in gentle heat in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Cut flowers

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free