How to Grow Scabiosa
'Beaujolais Bonnets' from Seed
Deep claret pincushions flecked with pale stamens, on long wiry stems for cutting. Flowers from July to the frost in its first year, then forms papery seed drums for drying.
'Beaujolais Bonnets' is one of the most useful plants for a cutting patch, and one of the most overlooked. It carries deep claret pincushion flowers flecked with pale stamens, on long, wiry stems that need no support and never look stiff in a vase.
It flowers from July until the frosts in its first year, provided you keep cutting, and bees and butterflies work it constantly. Let the last flowers go over and they form pale, papery seed drums that dry beautifully for winter arrangements.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Plant Type
Flowers first year, often short-lived perennial
Sowing Time
Feb to Apr · Aug to Sep
Flowering
July to September
Position
Full sun, well-drained soil
Spacing
Around 30cm
Difficulty
2 out of 5, easy
Understanding the Plant
'Beaujolais Bonnets' is a variety of Scabiosa atropurpurea, the sweet scabious from southern Europe. It flowers in its first summer from seed and, on well-drained ground, often survives winter to flower again.
The rich claret colour sits beautifully with pinks, silvers and deep purples, and the flowers last well in water.
Save the seed drums
Towards the end of the season, leave some flowers to fade on the plant. They turn into round, papery seed heads that can be cut and dried for winter arrangements.
When & How to Sow
Sow under cover from February to April for flowers the same summer, or in August and September for stronger plants that flower earlier the following year.
Autumn sowing for the cutting patch
Late summer sowings overwintered in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse make bushier plants and give an earlier, longer cutting season next year.
Sow and lightly cover. Sow one or two seeds per module and cover lightly with compost or vermiculite. Keep at around 15 to 20°C. Seedlings appear in one to three weeks.
Grow on cool. Thin to one seedling per cell and grow on in good light. Pinch out the tips at four or five pairs of leaves for more stems.
Plant out. Harden off and plant out in April or May, around 30cm apart, in full sun and well-drained soil.
Growing On Tips
Sun and drainage
Full sun and well-drained soil give the longest flowering season.
Keep cutting
Regular picking keeps new flowers coming until the frosts.
Great vase life
Long, wiry stems need no support and last well in water.
Pollinators
Bees and butterflies visit constantly throughout summer.
Dried seed heads
Leave late flowers to form papery drums for drying.
Low water
Water young plants until established, then only in dry spells.
Common Problems & How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Flowering slows | Flowers left to set seed | Cut regularly until you want seed heads at the end of the season. |
| White powdery leaves | Powdery mildew in dry spells | Water at the base in long dry spells and remove affected leaves. |
| Plants rot in winter | Wet, heavy soil | Improve drainage, or overwinter young plants under cover. |
| Few stems | Plants not pinched | Pinch young plants at four or five pairs of leaves. |
| Young plants eaten | Slugs and snails | Protect young plants after planting out. |
When to Expect Flowers
Spring-sown plants flower from July to the frosts. Autumn-sown plants flower earlier the following summer.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Sow under cover | ||||||||||||
| 🪴 Plant out | ||||||||||||
| 🌸 Flowering |
Plant Specifications
Claret pincushions for the cutting patch
Sow in spring or late summer, plant out in full sun and cut all season. Finish with papery seed drums for winter vases.
Shop Scabiosa Beaujolais Bonnets Seeds →