SCABIOSA FONDANT FANCIES

Scabious mixtures usually come in stronger, harder colours such as purple, red and black. It suddenly struck us that there’s never been a soft pastel mix before. So, we’ve put together a blend of the more delicate pastel shades of salmon-pink, lemon, apricot and white to create an adorable new mix with long cutting stems perfect for that ‘special’ bouquet. 3’. HHA.

Scabiosa, or Pin Cushion is native to Mediterranean Europe and a fabulously pollinator friendly flower, attracting bees and butterflies a plenty. It is a wonderful flower-arranger’s bloom and great for informal, cottage gardens, beds and borders. Plant two or even three sowings, three or four weeks apart to achieve a succession of blooms throughout the season.

Sow January to March for flowering from June onwards, or April to August for flowering the following year.

Sow the seeds into moist compost, equally spaced in trays or pots, covering very lightly. Place into a propagator or seal into polythene bags to maintain moisture, provide some shade, avoiding direct sunlight but allowing some light to aid germination, which should take place with 21 days at 65-75F.

Prick out the seedlings at 2 to 3 inches, transplanting them into individual 4 inch pots and growing on until almost pot-bound before moving into the garden. Acclimatise young plants to outdoor conditions before planting out after the last frosts.