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Pincushion Flower
Scabiosa africana
SA tree number
English: Pincushion Flower, Cape Scabious, Pincushion, African Scabious, Wild Scabious
Afrikaans: Perdeblom, Skurfblom, Koringblom
Synonyms: Scabiosa anthemifolia, Scabiosa atrata, Scabiosa leucantha
Misapplied botanical names: Scabiosa columbaria
Scabiosa africana, commonly known as the Pincushion Flower or Cape Scabious, is a charming, fast-growing perennial that forms a bushy, untidy clump. It's adorned with lovely lavender-blue (or sometimes pinkish) pincushion-like flowerheads held on long, slender stalks, and features soft, velvety leaves. This delightful plant is a firm favourite in indigenous gardens, attracting butterflies with its abundant blooms from spring to autumn.
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Distinguishing features:
Pincushion-like flowerheads, typically lavender-blue, on long, slender stalks.
Soft, velvety, irregularly lobed or toothed leaves forming a basal rosette and along the stems.
Fast-growing, bushy, untidy perennial.
Overall appearance:
A bushy, herbaceous perennial that forms an untidy clump of soft, velvety leaves and long-stalked flowerheads.
Height:
Grows up to 1 m tall.
Width:
Forms a clump about 0.5 m wide.
Leaves:
Soft and velvety to the touch.
Basal leaves form a rosette, larger (up to 150 mm long and 80 mm wide) with ruffled edges and irregularly lobed or toothed margins.
Stem leaves are smaller, more deeply lobed, and may be almost sessile (without stalks).
Lower surface is paler than the upper surface.
Flowers:
Pincushion-like flowerheads.
Typically lavender-blue, but can sometimes be pinkish.
Borne on long, slender stalks (up to 1 m long).
Each flowerhead is about 50 mm in diameter.
The outer ray florets are larger than the inner disc florets.
Sweetly scented.
Flowering season:
Mainly spring to autumn (August to April), but can flower for most of the year if kept healthy.
Stems:
Long, slender flower stalks that rise above the foliage.
Roots:
Fibrous root system.
Soil type:
Prefers well-drained, compost-enriched soil. Tolerates sandy, loamy, and clay soils.
Aspect:
Full sun to light shade. Prefers full sun for abundant flowering but benefits from some afternoon shade in very hot climates.
Ecology:
Attracts butterflies, which are important pollinators.
Bees are also likely visitors to the flowers.
Distribution and habitat:
Endemic to South Africa.
Provincial distribution: Western Cape (found on Table Mountain and surrounding areas, including the Cape Peninsula and the southwestern mountains).
Occurs on rocky slopes and streambanks.
Thrives in fynbos and renosterveld vegetation types.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Scabiosa comes from the Latin word 'scabies', meaning 'itch', referring to the traditional use of some species to treat scabies or other skin ailments.
The species name africana (Latin) simply means 'from Africa', indicating its origin.
The Afrikaans common name "Perdeblom" translates to "Horse Flower", possibly because horses like to eat it or because of a perceived resemblance. "Skurfblom" means "Rough Flower", perhaps referring to the texture or appearance of the flowerhead.
Historical aspects:
Scabiosa africana has been in cultivation in Europe since the late 17th century. It was collected by early botanists exploring the Cape. Its close resemblance to the European Scabiosa columbaria has sometimes led to confusion in naming.
Interesting facts:
This plant is a butterfly magnet! Its lovely lavender-blue pincushion flowers are a firm favourite for these winged beauties, bringing a flurry of activity to your garden.
It's got a cool nickname in Afrikaans, "Perdeblom," which means "Horse Flower"! No one's entirely sure why, but maybe horses thought it was yummy, or it just reminded someone of them.
Even though it's an indigenous South African gem, this plant has been charming gardeners in Europe for hundreds of years, making it a truly international star from the Cape!
Growing tips:
Propagation: Easily grown from seed or cuttings. Seeds can be sown in autumn or spring. Cuttings can be taken from soft wood or semi-hardwood.
Soil: Prefers well-drained, compost-enriched soil.
Light: Thrives in full sun but can tolerate light shade, especially in very hot areas.
Watering: Water regularly, especially during dry periods, but avoid overwatering. It's relatively drought-tolerant once established.
Maintenance: Remove spent flowerheads to encourage more blooms and prevent it from becoming too untidy. It can be pruned back hard after a few years to rejuvenate it if it becomes leggy.
Frost: Tolerates light frost but may need protection in severely cold areas.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
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