How to Plant a Scabiosa Seed

A blooming Scabiosa plant

The scabiosa is a type of flowering plant that belongs to the dipsacaceae family. Scabiosa are sometimes known as "pin cushion flowers" due to their unique appearance; they are often inaccurately referred to as "scabosia." There are both annual and perennial versions of this flowering plant. Scabiosa are beautiful plants, but require certain circumstances and a lot of attention to grow well. The location, method and time of planting are some of the most crucial factors in determining whether or not your scabiosa plants will grow and flower.

Instructions

1. Wait until all danger of frost in your area has passed before seeding. If you plant your scabiosa too early and it is exposed to even light frost, the plant will likely suffer irreversibly damage or die completely.

2. Choose a location with full, intense sunlight and well-draining soil, making sure to leave the scabiosa plant plenty of room to grow: at least 6 inches between the seed and any other vegetation or planted seeds.

3. Prepare the soil for your scabiosa by adding an organic compound of peat moss, well-rooted manure and compost to the top of the soil and tilling it underneath the surface. This will greatly help your chances of growing perfect scabiosa plants.

4. Plant the seeds about 1/2 to 1 inch deep in the prepared soil, then water the soil thoroughly.

5. Wait for your scabiosa plants to begin growing and flowering; most varieties flower in mid-summer and continue flowering into early autumn.

Tips & Warnings

• If you prepared the soil properly, your scabiosa plants shouldn't require fertilization--but a weak plant fertilizer can only help, and should be applied if you have doubts about your soil preparation. If you have a very short growing season, you can dramatically improve the quality of your scabiosa plants by starting them in pots inside during the early spring, then transplanting the seedlings outdoors after all chance of frost has passed. This will give your plants a healthy head start on the season.

• Scabiosa can grow to be 3 to 4 feet tall, so plan your garden accordingly.