Sweet scabious (pincushion flower) Scabiosa atropurpurea
Sweet scabious (pincushion flower) (Scabiosa atropurpurea) is an annual flowering plant in the Caprifoliaceae family, native to Mediterranean Europe and North Africa. It grows 50–90 cm (20–35 in) tall and 25–40 cm (10–16 in) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -8 °C (18 °F). Space plants about 30 cm (12 in) apart.
Plan Sweet scabious (pincushion flower) in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Sweet scabious (pincushion flower) at a glance
| Type | Annual flowering plant |
|---|---|
| Family | Caprifoliaceae |
| Mature height | 50–90 cm (20–35 in) |
| Mature spread | 25–40 cm (10–16 in) |
| Spacing | 30 cm (12 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6.5–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -8 °C (18 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 8) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 34 °C (93 °F) |
| Flowering | about 11–16 weeks after planting, for 10–16 weeks |
| Days to maturity | About 120 days from planting |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Mediterranean Europe and North Africa |
| Common in gardens of | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇫🇷 France, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇦🇺 Australia |
Is Sweet scabious (pincushion flower) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not known to be poisonous.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Sweet scabious (pincushion flower)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Questions about Sweet scabious (pincushion flower)
- How far apart should I plant Sweet scabious (pincushion flower)?
- About 30 cm (12 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 25–40 cm (10–16 in).
- Does Sweet scabious (pincushion flower) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Sweet scabious (pincushion flower) need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Sweet scabious (pincushion flower)?
- It tolerates about -8 °C (18 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 8. As an annual it is usually planted out after the last frost.
- When does Sweet scabious (pincushion flower) flower?
- About 11–16 weeks after planting, for 10–16 weeks.
- Is Sweet scabious (pincushion flower) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not known to be poisonous.
- What grows well with Sweet scabious (pincushion flower)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Sweet scabious (pincushion flower). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- RHS Find a Plant (plant profiles and growing guides), Royal Horticultural Society
- Euro+Med PlantBase, Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin
Notes and assumptions
- A hardy annual: sow where it is to flower in autumn or early spring, thin the seedlings, and let some plants set seed.
- A cutting-patch flower: picking the stems often keeps new ones coming.
- Domed, honey-scented heads from near-black to white on wiry stems, much visited by bees and butterflies. WCVP keeps it in Scabiosa; some floras use Sixalix atropurpurea.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Corn salad (lamb's lettuce) Valerianella locusta
- Valerian Valeriana officinalis
- Haskap (honeyberry) Lonicera caerulea
- Red valerian Centranthus ruber
- Common honeysuckle (woodbine) Lonicera periclymenum
- Weigela Weigela florida
- Field scabious Knautia arvensis
- Twinflower Linnaea borealis