Scabiosa caucasica

Scabiosa caucasica, the Caucasian pincushion flower,[1] pincushion-flower[2] or Caucasian scabious, is a species of flowering plant in the family Caprifoliaceae, native to the Caucasus, north eastern Turkey, and northern Iran. Growing to 60 cm (24 in) tall and broad, it is a clump-forming perennial with divided leaves. Pincushion-shaped buds, borne on erect stems, open to pale blue or lavender flower heads, 8 cm (3 in) in diameter, from late summer through to autumn.[3]

Scabiosa caucasica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Dipsacales
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Genus: Scabiosa
Species:
S. caucasica
Binomial name
Scabiosa caucasica
Synonyms
  • Asterocephalus caucasicus (M.Bieb.) Spreng.
  • Asterocephalus elegans Lag.
  • Lomelosia caucasica (M.Bieb.) Greuter & Burdet
  • Sclerostemma caucasicum (M.Bieb.) Schott
  • Sclerostemma connatum Schott
  • Trochocephalus caucasicus (M.Bieb.) Á.Löve & D.Löve

The plant is highly attractive to bees and other pollinating insects.[4]

Cultivars

Numerous cultivars have been developed for garden use, in shades of red, purple, pink, blue and white. The cultivars 'Clive Greaves'[5] and 'Miss Willmott'[6] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[7]

Other cultivars include:-

  • 'Blue Perfection' (blue)
  • 'Bressingham White' (white)
  • 'Claire Greaves' (lavender blue)            
  • 'Compliment' (large blue)
  • 'Fama' (large lavender blue)
  • 'Floral Queen' (light blue)
  • 'Loddon White' (white)
  • 'Moonbeam Blue' (dark blue)
  • 'Mrs Isaac House' (creamy white)
  • 'Perfecta' (dark lavender blue)
  • 'Perfecta Alba Blanc' (white)
  • 'Staefa' (blue)
Scabiosa caucasica in a French garden

References
  1. "Scabiosa caucasica". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  2. "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
  4. Val Bourne. "Telegraph - how to grow - Scabiosa caucasica". Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  5. "RHS Plant Selector - Scabiosa caucasica 'Clive Greaves'". Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  6. "RHS Plant Selector - Scabiosa caucasica 'Miss Willmott'". Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  7. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 95. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
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