Scabious (Scabiosa) / RHS Plant Guide

Scabious

RHS Genus Guide

With a succession of summer flowers scabious are winsome addition to borders. They can be perennials, surviving for several years or shorter lived annuals, dying after flowering. The flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies and many make good cut flowers for the home. The core colours of scabious are white, lavender and blue but there are some burgundies and lemons to choose from too.

Botanical name: Scabiosa, Knautia, Cephalaria, Sucissa

Appearance

These plants bear flowers which are often referred to as 'pin cushions'. They're held on wiry stems which give them a child-like appeal. While scabious come in lavenders, blues and sometimes white, the most commonly grown Cephalaria is lemon and Knautia are predominantly wine-red.

Preferences

Scabious generally like well-draining and sunny locations.

Dislikes

Most scabious dislike wet feet and shade.

Did you know?

Scabious is a common term for several species including: Cephalaria (giant scabious), Knautia (Macedonian scabious), Succisa (devil's bit scabious) and of course, Scabiosa