Cephalaria gigantea

RHS Plant Profile
giant scabious

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giant scabious RHS 1998
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giant scabious visionspictures.com

Other common names

yellow scabious

Synonyms

Cephalaria tatarica hort.
Scabiosa tatarica
Cephalaria caucasica
Scabiosa gigantea

Herbaceous Perennial
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A perennial forming a clump of pinnately lobed basal leaves, with tall, branched stems carrying light yellow flower-heads to 6cm across in summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing or North–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)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Caprifoliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Cephalaria are annuals or perennials with pinnately divided leaves and scabious-like flower-heads
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Caucasus to Turkey

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a fertile moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Needs staking in exposed gardens.

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame in early spring or propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free