Scabiosa stellata
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Scabiosa stellata

Starflower pincushions · Starflower

Tier 2 Difficulty: medium Water: low Light: full_sun
Temperature
5–35 °C
Soil pH
6–7
Hardiness
Zone 4–10
Click count
49
Observations
60

Description

Source: leafsnap

Scabiosa stellata is a species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. It is known by the common name starflower pincushions or starflower scabious. It was formerly placed in the teasel family. It is native to southwestern Europe and North Africa, and it is known widely as an ornamental plant. This erect annual plant has an inflorescence which is a dense spherical cluster of flowers. They yield showy fruits with fan-like funnel-shaped papery bracts.

🌳 Cream pincushions are an important nectar source for a variety of pollinators, especially butterflies, which play a key role in biodiversity. Their abundant nectar rewards the insects that, in turn, assist with pollination. This mutual relationship emphasizes the plant’s significant contribution to the ecosystem and may attract the interest of ecological gardeners and conservation efforts.

Care Guide

💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun

Cream pincushions prefer a location where they receive the main sun exposure for most of the day, though they can tolerate places that get sun only part of the day. Native to habitats that regularly receive abundant sunlight, they need that exposure to grow healthily. Too little or too much sunlight can adversely affect their growth.

Ideal: Full sun
🌡️ Temperature 5–35°C

Cream pincushions are native to areas where temperatures typically range from 68 to 95 °F (20 to 35 ℃). They prefer warm conditions; in cooler seasons, supply extra heat to keep temperatures within that range.

Ideal temperature: 5–35°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-7
Soil pH: 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer

The ideal time to fertilize a Cream pincushions is early spring, as it comes out of dormancy and begins active growth. Fertilization supplies essential nutrients for healthy development. Although Cream pincushions has relatively low fertilizer needs, applying fertilizer annually can improve its survival and encourage better, longer-lasting flowers.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Herb
Life Cycle
Perennial, Biennial
Genus
Scabiosa
Family
Caprifoliaceae
Hardiness Zone
4-10
Mature Height
40 cm
Mature Spread
30 cm
Leaf Color
Green, Silver
Leaf Type
Deciduous
Flower Color
Yellow, White
Flower Size
2.03 cm to 3.05 cm
Bloom Time
Late spring, Early summer, Mid summer
Planting Time
Spring
Harvest Time
Early summer, Mid summer
Native Area
Turkey, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Armenia, Poland, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Belarus, Ukraine, Serbia, Russia, China, Lithuania, Hungary, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Italy, Mongolia, Albania, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Romania, Latvia

Tags (7)

Common Names (2)

en Starflower pincushions
en Starflower