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Herbaceous Perennial

Scabiosa cretica

Cretian pincushion flower

A compact, clump-forming perennial to 45cm tall, forming a mound of oval to lance-shaped, silvery-green foliage with upright, slender white-woolly stems bearing pincushion-like lavender flowerheads in late spring and early summer that are followed by attractive, spherical seedheads

Other common names

Balearic pincushion flower

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

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)

Botanical details

Family: Caprifoliaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Scabiosa can be annuals, biennials or herbaceous or evergreen perennials, with simple or pinnately lobed leaves and characteristic flower-heads with enlarged outer florets
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Baleares, Sicilia, Italy

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in full sun and well-drained soil

Propagation

Propagate by seed, by division or by basal semi-ripe cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Rock garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required, but can deadhead to prolong flowering, and cut stems to ground level in late winter

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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