Pincushion flower – Scabiosa atropurpurea

Common Name: Pincushion flower

Botanical Name: Scabiosa atropurpurea, skab-ee-O-sa aht-ro-pur-pur-EE-a

Decorative Life: 5-7 days.

Flower Color: Purple

Availability: Fall, Summer

• Member of the Dipsacaceae (teasel family).
• Native to South Africa.
• Not so common relatives include Cephalaria, Knautia, Morina and Succisa.

• Flower heads are about 2 inches across with outer whorl of petals and center of less conspicuous flowers.
• Stems are mostly thin, 20-28 inches long.
• Plant is an annual, classed as a dicotyledon.
• Flowers have fragrance.

Hold at 36-41F, in solution.

• From the Latin “scabies” (itch), the plant’s rough leaves were said to cure an itch. The specific epithet name “atropurpurea” means dark purple.
• At first glance this species looks like a member of the Compositae or aster family.

Starman et al. (1995) rated this species (‘Imperial Mix’) as being an average to good income producer.