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Sweet Scabious 'Black Knight'
Sweet Scabious 'Black Knight'
Sweet Scabious 'Black Knight'
Seed Packet

Sweet Scabious 'Black Knight'

Scabiosa atropurpurea
Beloved since the early 1600s in England, when it was called Blackamoor's Beauty and Mournful Widow, a reference to the moody black-burgundy tones. The beaded buds open to a sumptuous puff of a flower that resembles satin pincushions studded with white-tipped pins. The honey-scented flowers attract bees and butterflies to your garden; cut, it lends depth to jewel-toned romantic bouquets.
SKU #S396
$4.50
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Sweet Scabious 'Black Knight'
$14.95
Sweet Scabious 'Black Knight'
Details
Approximate Seeds Per Packet
82
Lifecycle
Annual
Annual Hardiness
Half Hardy Annual
Mature Size
2.5-3' h x 1.5' w
Sun
Full sun
Soil
Rich, moist, well-drained, neutral to alkaline pH
Season
Summer to fall
Color
Dark maroon pincushion flowers
Features
Great Cut Flower
Deer Resistant
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Bees
Attracts Hummingbirds
Attracts Beneficial Insects
SOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Depth:
Surface sow to barely cover (about 1/16”).
Sprout Time:
5-15 days
Seed To Bloom:
16 weeks
Starting Indoors:
Start indoors in pots 4-5 weeks before last frost. Cover with a sprinkling of vermiculite or a humidity dome to aid germination and keep at 65-70°F.
Starting Outdoors:
Direct sow 2 weeks before last springtime frost.
WHEN TO SET OUTSIDE
After last frost.
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
Sweet scabious's honey-scented pincushion blooms and decorative beaded buds are the joy of mid-summer to fall gardens, for they look pristine just when earlier bloomers start to fade. Grow in the cutting and meadow garden, where butterflies will be frequent visitors. Pinch when setting out and support young plants with twiggy brush and deadhead often for continuing bloom.
Final Spacing:
1-1.5'
Water Requirements:
Medium Water Use
Watering Details:
About 1" per week, though it will tolerate some drought once established.
Soil pH:
Neutral to alkaline.
Fertilizer:
Mix in about 2-4" of compost prior to planting outside.
Diseases & Pests:
Avoid powdery mildew by spacing properly and in a location that has good air circulation.
When to Cut for Bouquets:
Harvest when several flowers on a stem are freshly open.