If you're interested in scabiosa—planting and caring for it in open ground, photos—we'll show you how to approach this beauty, how to grow it in your garden, and enjoy its irrepressible, luxurious blooms all summer long.
Light, colorful, magnificent—all these epithets apply to scabiosa, and deservedly so. Interestingly, it's easy to plant, low-maintenance, and produces marvelous blooms. What more could a gardener or summer resident wish for to adorn their plot with this beauty?
Where to plant
Our beauty loves sun and well-drained soil. So, if you have the sunniest spot, plant it there. Add some sand and gravel to the soil to ensure the scabiosa thrives. Otherwise, if water stagnates, its delicate roots will rot, and you'll lose the plant.
See also: Marigolds - growing from seeds, when to plant.
When to plant
In April, prepare the area for the scabious, loosen the soil, water it, and sow the seeds. Leave about 30 centimeters between the plants, otherwise you'll have to thin them out later, and the seeds are expensive, so it'll be a shame. Then cover the area with a thin layer of compost.
If you live in a cooler region, you can grow scabiosa from seedlings. Sow the seeds in a container with soil, water gently, and cover with plastic wrap. Remove the plastic wrap daily to air the soil and check for moisture. The temperature should not exceed 15-16 degrees Celsius. Remove the plastic wrap as soon as you see shoots appear, and transplant them as soon as leaves appear. Then, before moving them to open ground, expose them to fresh air for an hour to harden the seedlings, which will help them take root better.
You can also propagate scabiosa by dividing the roots. Just be sure to do this very carefully in the spring, without damaging the roots too much.
Caring for Scabiosa
This beauty delights not only with its luxurious blooms, but also with its unpretentiousness. It easily survives drought, is frost-resistant, as long as it's watered moderately, its faded flowers are removed early, and weeds are kept out—nothing else is needed.
Top dressing
Although scabiosa is unpretentious, it doesn't hurt to feed it - add phosphorus and potassium in the spring, and its flowers will respond with lush growth and vibrant colors.
You might find this useful: Hyacinth in a pot after flowering, what to do with it?.