Caucasian pincushion flower is as cute as it is discrete, and encountering it is sure to lift your spirits.
Caucasian pincushion flower facts
Name – Scabiosa caucasica
Family – Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle family)
Type – perennial
Height – 16 to 32 inches (40 to 80 cm)
Exposure – full sun
Soil: ordinary, well drained – Flowering: end of spring to early fall
Scabiosa caucasica used to help treat scabies and its scientific Latin name comes from that usage.
Spring is the recommended planting season for the pincushion flower. Keep a space of about 12 inches (30 cm) between specimens.
If you’d rather proceed to sow pincushion flower from seed, start in March or April under cover to protect it from the last frost spells.
An easy plant to care for, this Scabiosa doesn’t require much attention.
Remove wilted flowers regularly (deadheading) in order to boost flower-bearing.
In fall, once leaves and flowers have wilted away, mulch the base of each stem with a fair pile of dried leaves to protect them from the cold and winter frost spells.
This very cute perennial begets interesting and luminous flowers in shades of violet-blue, white or lavender.
In beds, along edges, it will thrive without requiring any care at all.
You should go for regular but moderate watering over the summer season.
Lastly, note that pincushion flowers are great additions to your vegetable patch, since they’ll attract important beneficial insects such as butterflies and bees.
Adding special organic “flower plant” fertilizer in spring can boost the blooming.
