SCABIOUS are annuals and perennials with an unfussy charm that suit modern naturalistic planting and cottage-style gardens. The domed or disc flowerheads, which resemble a pincushion, hence their alternative name of pincushion flower, and contain around 50 flowers, are packed with nectar that lures bees and butterflies throughout summer and into early autumn. On top of that, they are easy to grow, drought-tolerant and make great cut flowers.
The name scabious is said to relate to the plant’s old use in folk medicine as a treatment for scabies, which creates an itchy rash. Indeed, the herbalist Nicholas Culpeper recommended it for itchy skin, sores and spots.
The common name scabious collectively refers to three genera (Cephalaria, Knautia and Scabiosa), which, confusingly, were all), which has bold purple-blue domed flowers with pink anthers in late summer and autumn.
