The pincushion is a long-blooming flower that adds pretty garden color.
Scabiosaare flowers that look a little like something you’d stick your sewing needles in.
Their gray-green, lance-shaped foliage surrounds long stems.
Credit:Achim Mittler / Getty Images
Besides their notable appearance, they’re also prized for blooming from spring to frost in the right conditions.
Read on for where pincushion flowers grow best and how to care for them.
Pincushion flowers can grow to 32 inches tall and 12 inches wide.
They require full sun, well-draining soil, and moderate water.
Due to its long stalk, this plant may need support or staking to keep an upright habit.
The plants grow best in cool summers and mild winters.
It makes a good cut flower or an attractive addition to a dried flower arrangement.
Consider letting your pincushion go a little free range to make it grow the blooms for these uses.
Full sun means the planting site should have at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.
Soil
Pincushion thrives in chalky, loamy soils that have a neutral pH or are alkaline.
Soil must be well drained.
Scabiosa likerich soilsbut cannot tolerate heavy soils or clay soils.
Soil that retains dampness will cause the plant to start rotting.
Water
The pincushion flower needs moderate water, but they can tolerate dryness and occasional drought conditions.
Water once a week when there is no rain and twice a week during drought-like conditions.
Some pincushion flowers are grown as annuals, while others may be perennial in the right conditions.S.
A popular cultivar ofS.
columbaria, ‘Butterfly Blue’, can be grown toZone 9.
Wet winters can impact the survival of the plant.
Scabiosa is known toattract butterfliesand will make your garden active with pollinators.
They make for good cut flowers, so that shouldn’t be too much of a gardening challenge.
Allow clumps to establish first and divide every three years or so.
Perennial varieties can also be planted in fall.
Potting And Repotting Pincushion Flower
Try growing scabiosa in containers if you have heavy soil.
confirm containers have adequate drainage holes, and use a well-draining potting mix that includes organic matter.
Choose a container at least 12 inches wide to give your plant room to spread its roots.
Give thepotted plantlots of sunlight.
Choose a pot that’s one size larger than the current one, and verify it has adequate drainage.
Overwintering
Scabiosa are winter-hardy plants that survive cold temperatures.
caucasicaare usually grown as annuals south of Zone 7.
This is another reason why they are so low-maintenance.
They can have occasional problems.
Watch for common garden pests like aphids, spider mites, and thrips.
Treat these pests with neem oil or wash the plant with a stream of water.
Slugs can damage foliage and stems.
Remove these by hand or treat with neem oil.
Pincushion flowers can get fungal diseases like root rot, leaf spot, orpowdery mildew.
Well-draining soil, good airflow, and watering the plant at its base can help prevent these diseases.
They need full sun to bloom and will bloom repeatedly for months with deadheading.
However, pincushion flower can stop blooming during extreme heat, then resume in fall.
The fragrant blooms smell honey-like and sweet.
Healthy plants can have 20 to 50 blooms.
Common Problems With Pincushion Flower
Pincushion flower is an easy-to-care-for plant, but it can have issues.
Watch for changes in leaves or signs of stress like minimal growth or poor blooms.
Adjustments to care can resolve most problems.
Reduce watering so the soil can dry out between waterings.
If yellowing leaves occur with no blooms, nutrients could be to blame.
Add compost or a balanced fertilizer to the soil.
Pincushion flower needs full sun to grow and bloom.
Increase the amount of sunlight or use grow lights if necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, hummingbirds will visit scabiosa along with butterflies.
‘Fama White’, ‘Snowmaiden’, and ‘Flutter Pure White’ are some popular varieties of white scabiosa.
