Scabiosa caucasica

RHS Plant Profile
garden scabious

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Scabiosa caucasica?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
garden scabious RHS

Other common names

Caucasian scabious, white bonnets

Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
2 Suppliers

A clump-forming perennial to 60cm in height, with entire grey-green basal leaves and incised stem leaves. Pale-centred lavender-blue flower heads 6-8cm in width are borne on erect stems

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 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
Matforming
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
Caucasus, Iran

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil in full sun; ideal for chalky soils. Protect from winter wet

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe or in spring. Propagate by division in spring or take basal semi-ripe cuttings; best lifted and divided every three years

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wall side borders
  • Cut flowers

Pruning

Deadhead to prolong flowering; cut down stems in autumn

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free