Scabious Flowers

White And Blue Scabious Flowers

Name : Scabious Flowers
Latin Name : Genus: Scabiosa, (Scabiosa columbaria)
Scabious Description

Scabious is the common name given to the hundred or so species of flowering plants in the genus Scabiosa in the Teasel Family, Dipsacaceae. Other common names include Pincushion Flowers, Sweet Scabious, Mourning-bride and Devil's Bit. Scabious derives its name from a contagious skin disease called scabies, which it was once thought to cure. Scabious earns its name 'Pincushion Flower' because the stamens protrude from the center of the flower resembling pins stuck in a pin cushion.

Scabious varieties are native to Europe and Asia and some Scabiosa varieties, notably Scabiosa columbaria or the Small Scabious and S. atropurpurea or the Mediterranean Sweet Scabious have been developed into cultivars for gardens. Scabious varieties have been cultivated since 1800, when they were brought from Hungary and Mediterranean Russia.

Scabious are gentle, daisy-like flowers often seen in cottage gardens and cornfield fringes. The pastel-coloured blossoms are small and borne in a single head on a tall stalk. Scabiosa is a large genus and contains annual, biannual and perennial varieties of hardy flowering plants. Scabious varieties may be from 15 to 60cm tall.

Scabious flowers bloom from Summer through to the first months of autumn, and carry domed flowers of red, white, blue, purple, yellow, soft lavender blue, lilac or creamy white colour atop long stems. They are commercially available all year round.

Scabious prefers well drained, humus rich, slightly alkaline (pH 7 to 8) and moist soil. Plant your Scabious in full sun; the annual varieties are best sown after the last frost, while the perennials may be sown at the start of spring or autumn. Scabious are low maintenance plants and need very little care. Stake your Scabious if planted in a windy area, as they have delicate wiry stems; make sure that the soil stays moist in summer; deadhead flowers once the blooms are spent; cut back Scabious plants at the end of the growing season in autumn. Divide the plants every two or three years to maintain health and vigorous growth.

Propagation of Scabious is carried out by division at the start of spring, or cuttings in the summer time. Scabious can also be started from seeds.

Scabious flowers are excellent garden plants that can fit well into any garden design. Most varieties can be used as ground cover and are ideal for use in garden borders. Scabious attracts bees and butterflies due to its sweet nectar and the soft fragrance and pastel colours add a soothing touch to the garden. Scabious flowers continuously if dead-headed, adding a vaulable touch of soft blue to a planting scheme and a light and airy look with its rounded, flat flowers.

Scabious varieties are great cut flowers and are useful in garden style arrangements. Use Scabious to soften the overall effect of an arrangement. They can be used as a contrast with any brighter colour and work well as focal points in an arrangement, lending elegance and fragrance to the bouquet or flower arrangement. With a considerably long vase life of 5-7 days and year round availability, Scabious is the ideal choice for garden style themes. Scabious can be dried easily and are suitable for use in dried flower arrangements as well.

Popular perennial varieties of Scabious include Scabiosa columbaria, varieties of 'Pink Mist' and 'Butterfly Blue'. Scabiosa atropurpurea is an annual variety with flowers in shades of deep maroon, lavender-blue, rose, pink and white. Pink Mist is a cultivar with showy pastel pink flowers about 2 1/2 inches across. Butterfly Blue blossoms are a light lavender-blue, and measure up to 3 inches across. Scabiosa caucasica or Perfecta has pale blue flowers with an attractive white centre. Finally, Mrs Isaac House is another cultivar with white flowers.

Scabious Meaning

The charming Scabious symbolizes Admiration, Widowhood and Unfortunate Love.

Scabious Mythology

Scabious finds medicinal uses as well and is used in ointments for treating a variety of skin disorders. Boiled into tea, Scabious makes a good hair rinse for dandruff.

A myth explains the reason for plant’s very short, bitten-off-looking root. According to an old European legend, the root of the Scabious plant was very useful to mankind as a tea for coughs and fevers and in ointments for the treatment of skin diseases. Consumed with anger over the plant's many virtues, the Devil bit half of its root off, but God allowed it to thrive with a stumpy root anyway. That’s how the plant got its common name Devil’s Bit.

In ancient times, Devil's Bit root was believed to have magical powers as well: it was believed to put a stop to any evil directed toward a person and was used in potions meant for the bearer’s protection.