Scabiosa (Sweet) Growing Guide

Scabiosa

Scabiosa (Sweet)

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Any fertile soil with good drainage.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

Fair. Where winters are mild and the soil does not freeze, established plants may survive one winter.

Feeding

Mulch the soil with compost prior to planting.

Companions

Scabiosa mixes well with many summer flowers including black-eyed susans and petunias.

Spacing

Single Plants: 11" (30cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 9" (25cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Sow scabiosa seeds indoors in early spring and set seedlings out two weeks before your last spring frost is expected. Transplant carefully, without disturbing the roots.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Scabiosas make great cut flowers, and many varieties are fragrant. Colors include lavender, pink, rose, dark red, white and soft yellow. Perennial forms are available, but not in the color range of seed-sown annual scabiosa.

Harvesting

Harvest stems to use as cut flowers as soon as the blossoms open. Clip off old blossoms every week or so to prolong bloom time.

Troubleshooting

Scabiosa plants may need staking to keep them upright so that the stems do not twist.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Scabiosa (Sweet)