Consulta Plantas

Care of the plant Scabiosa africana or Cape Scabious

The genus Scabiosa, family Caprifoliaceae, comprises 100 species of perennial and annual plants native to Africa, Europe and Asia. Some species are: Scabiosa africana, Scabiosa lucida, Scabiosa caucasica, Scabiosa cretica, Scabiosa graminifolia, Scabiosa columbaria, Scabiosa atropurpurea.

Common names: Cape Scabious, Pincushion, Koringblom. This species is native to the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.

They are fast-growing perennials that reach 1 meter (3.28 feet) in height when they bloom. They have pairs of whole or pinatifid leaves. The small flowers appear in chapters, are padded in shape and can be blue, red, lilac, purple or pink.

These easy-to-grow plants are used on borders, in flower beds, on rockeries, on slopes and in pots.

Scabiosa africana needs full sun exposure and average temperatures between 15-25 ºC (59-77 ºF).

The soil should be well drained and slightly loamy and fertile. The planting is done in spring.

Water moderately all year long, waiting for the soil to completely dry out.

Fertilize in autumn with manure and every two months with mineral fertilizer in spring and summer.

They are resistant plants to the usual pests and diseases.

They are propagated by division in early spring.

Images of the plant Scabiosa africana or Cape Scabious