Sweet scabious
Scabiosa atropurpurea
A favourite in cut flower gardens and pollinator borders, scabious is a lovely, easy to grow flower. The plants work well in cottage and meadow-style plantings, and are equally good in more formal and urban designs.
Sow Seeds can be sown into pots of peat-free compost in spring or late summer. Be patient… they can take a while to germinate. A little gentle heat will help germination. Prick out and pot on seedlings as needed and grow in a cool, light position to produce sturdy plants. Plant out spring sown plants in May or June. A late summer sowing will need protection overwinter and can be planted out in spring.
Grow Plant in full sun in moist but well-drained soil. Deadhead regularly to keep the plants flowering. Scabious will continue to produce flowers well into the autumn.
Uses Scabious make really good, attractive cut flowers, lasting well in a vase. They are also great plants to grow for bees and butterflies and mix well with other cottage garden favourites in a border or container.