White Bonnets Lomelosia caucasica

Pincushion flower is becoming a popular perennial in cool areas because of its long flowering season and soft blue or white rounded flower heads. The plant is a member of the honeysuckle family and is native to Turkey and Iran. It will reach a mature height of 2 feet with an equal width with a clumping or mat-forming habit. The genus name, Scabiosa, comes from the Latin scabies meaning "the itch" and refers to the plant's rough leaves. The species name means of the Caucasus.

Pincushion flowers do best in soil that is light, well-drained, sandy or loamy, neutral to slightly alkaline in full sun. Good drainage is especially important because the plant will rot in wet soil. It also is intolerant of high heat and humidity. It can be propagated from seeds sown in spring or summer or by division in the spring.

Numerous cultivars have been developed from this plant including 'Butterfly Blue' that continuously produces lavender-blue flowers on 20 inch stems from early summer to frost. The cultivars are often more readily available than the host plant.

The plant dies out in warm, coastal plains gardens and should be protected from wet, winter weather. A light, dry winter mulch of hay, straw, or evergreen boughs will help it get through the winter. You should deadhead spent blossoms to prolong flowering and cut down the stems in autumn after flowering is complete.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No known diseases or insect pests.