Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd
Scabious Imperial Mix
Scabious Imperial Mix
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Scabious 'Imperial Mix' Seeds
If you want a plant that pumps out blooms from mid-summer right through to the first frosts, Scabious 'Imperial Mix' is it. This stunning variety produces tall, wiry stems topped with dome-shaped "pincushion" flowers in a dazzling array of jewel tones: deep blackcurrant, rich crimson, soft lavender, salmon pink, and pure white.
The flowers are not only beautiful but interactive. The outer ring of frilly petals surrounds a central cushion of tiny florets that open gradually, releasing a sweet, honey-like scent that is irresistible to butterflies and bees. It adds height, movement, and a relaxed, "meadow-style" elegance to any border or vase.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Scabious is a Hardy Annual.
It completes its life cycle in one season. It is a "cut-and-come-again" flower, meaning the more you harvest, the more it grows.
The Seed Head Bonus: If you stop picking the flowers in late summer, the central "cushion" elongates into a beautiful, architectural seed head that looks like a tiny globe. These look fantastic left in the winter garden or dried for arrangements.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
This is an easy, reliable annual that thrives in sunny spots.
Germination:
Sow indoors in spring (March-April) or autumn (Sept). Surface sow onto moist compost and cover lightly with vermiculite. Keep warm (18-20°C). Germination takes 10-14 days. You can also direct sow outdoors in May when the soil has warmed up.
Where to Sow:
They demand full sun. They prefer neutral to alkaline (chalky) soil that is well-drained. They hate heavy, waterlogged clay in winter.
Care While Growing:
Support: 'Imperial Mix' is tall (90cm) and has wiry stems. In a windy garden, it will need support from netting or bamboo canes to stop it flopping over.
Deadhead: This is crucial! Remove spent flowers regularly to stop the plant setting seed and finishing early.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Scabiosa atropurpurea |
| Common Name | Pincushion Flower 'Imperial Mix' |
| Hardiness | H4 (Hardy Annual) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 90cm (Tall) |
| Spread | ↔️ 30cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 30cm apart |
| Great for | 🦋 Butterflies ✂️ Cut Flowers 🐝 Bees 🎨 Jewel Colours |
| Seed Count | Approx. 50 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
The rich, mixed colours of 'Imperial Mix' look best with neutral or lime-green partners:
- ❄️ Ammi Majus (Queen Anne's Lace): The Meadow Look. The white lace of Ammi Majus provides a calm, airy background that allows the bright jewel colours of the Scabious to shine.
- 🍋 Bupleurum 'Griffithii': The Zesty Contrast. The lime-green flowers of Bupleurum make the deep reds and purples of the Scabious look even richer. A favourite combination for florists.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow indoors in spring. Flowers mid-summer to late autumn.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Indoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | ||||||||
| Flowers | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
⚠️ Scent Note
Scabious flowers have a lovely, mild honey scent. To appreciate it, you need to get up close! It is strongest on warm, sunny afternoons.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
This plant is a biodiversity champion. Scabiosa atropurpurea is listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list, attracting a huge range of beneficial insects to the garden.
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