Scabiosa 'Kudo Blue' (Pincushion Flower)

Where to Plant:

This compact Pincushion Flower produces a profusion of lovely lavender-blue flowers on slender stems over a long period. For the best performance and the most flowers, it must be planted in a position that receives full sun all day. It thrives in well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil and is very tolerant of poorer, chalky soils. It is an excellent choice for the front or middle of a sunny border, a gravel garden, or a container, and is exceptionally attractive to bees and butterflies.

How to Plant:

You can plant container-grown specimens at any time during the growing season. If planting now in summer, ensure you water it regularly until it is well established. Dig a hole the same depth and width as the pot. Gently remove the plant from its container, place it in the hole, and ensure the top of the rootball is level with the surrounding soil. Backfill, firm gently, and water thoroughly to settle the plant in.

Aftercare:

The single most important task to ensure a summer-long display is to deadhead the plant regularly. Snip off the spent flower stems right at the base of the plant as they fade. This will constantly encourage the production of new blooms, often right into the autumn. Once established, the plant is drought-tolerant. In late autumn, you can cut the foliage back to the ground, or leave it until early spring.