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Butterfly Blue Scabious Wikimedia Commons
Caprifoliaceae

Butterfly Blue Scabious

Scabiosa columbaria

Love and loss.

Family
Caprifoliaceae
Genus
Scabiosa
Native to
Europe, Africa, Western Asia
Bloom season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Type
herbaceous perennial
Height
1-1.5 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
Well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil
Water
low to moderate
Hardiness
5-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Butterfly Blue was named Perennial Plant of the Year in 2000 by the Perennial Plant Association.
  • The pincushion-like flower heads can produce blooms continuously from spring until hard frost if regularly deadheaded.
  • The name scabious comes from the Latin 'scabies' because the plant was historically used to treat skin conditions.
  • Each flower head is actually composed of dozens of tiny individual florets that open from the outside inward.
  • True to its name, this plant is a magnet for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators throughout the growing season.

Color meanings

0

unfortunate love

1

remembrance

2

peace

Uses

  • pollinator garden
  • cottage garden
  • cut flowers
  • border edging