'Butterfly Blue' Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa)
Perennial
- Lavender-blue flowers bloom for months!
- Adored by bees, butterflies, & other pollinating insects.
- Petite size makes it great for containers and small spaces.
- Zones 5-9, sun, 18" tall x 18" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
UNABLE TO SHIP TO: OR
Description
Details
Common name: Pincushion flower
Zone: 5 - 9
Sun exposure: Sun (6+ hours sun)
Height x width: 12-18" x 12-18"
Flower color: Blue
Foliage color: Green
Season of Interest: Late spring into fall
Uses: Accent, border, containers, cottage gardening, edging, ground cover, massing, Small spaces, cut flower gardens, pollinator gardens.
How to Grow
Light: Full sun is best for most prolific blooming
Water: Needs medium to dry moisture, will not tolerate too much moisture or soggy conditions.
Spacing: 1.5 feet apart
Fertilizing: Does not need fertilizer, grows well in poor soils. If desired a light application can be applied every other spring.
Winterizing: Foliage can be left standing through fall and winter. Do not apply mulch on crown. It will not tolerate soggy winter conditions.
Maintenance & Pruning: Clean up old foliage in spring before new growth appears. Consider deadheading after flowering.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
I planted these charming "Pincushion" flowers only 2 months ago in the spring, not quite knowing what to expect. Now, just a few months later... on this bright June 2nd, 2025, they've absolutely been exploding into bloom! Every single plant not only survived the journey here, but has taken to the garden soil with incredible enthusiasm. They’re thriving beyond my hopes, turning my walkway into a sea of color and delicate beauty. What a rewarding surprise! I'm sure they will even provide more color as they mature in the years to come.
I order quite a few plants online and these are the smallest and puniest I have ever received. They are growing but I would not order from you again.
We’re sorry you’re not satisfied with your plants! On each product page and our plant sizes page, we note that all of our plants are young. The size of our plants varies depending on the time of year and whether they were recently trimmed. The most important thing when purchasing plants, online or in garden centers, is a full and robust root system, which we prioritize. Trimming only encourages stronger root development! Just contact us at [email protected] with your order number and photos of the plants. After further investigation, we will be able to better assist you. All orders are covered by our 60-day guarantee. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/bb-guaranteed
I ordered plants that arrived in three days, potted in small pots, and healthy. They are growing well and look amazing.
Perfect!
Several of the plants were damaged, some even out of pots. They were all put in a plastic bag, so that was the problem. I spoke with the owners, who were very helpful. I said I would try to baby them along. I just wanted to let them know about the packaging.
I just got this plant and planted it a couple of weeks ago. Already blooming! I really like getting plants that I just stick in the ground as opposed to pieces of root that I have to nurture into a plant.
I ordered two of these. One was super healthy and is going great with nice blooms.
The other was sickly and hasn’t grown at all, I don’t expect it to survive the winter.
Plants in poor shape and did not survive
Does the pincushion flower butterfly blue spread in the garden?
'Butterfly Blue' Pincushion flower can spread by seed in the garden, but oftern times many seeds fail to germinate.
Hardy to what temperature
Hi there! 'Butterfly Blue' Pincushion Flower is rated down to USDA zone 5 which means it can withstand an average coldest temperature of -20 °F to -10 °F.
Is the blue pincushion part of the lavender family
Hello! No, 'Butterfly Blue' Pincushion Flower are not part of the lavender family. 'Butterfly Blue' Pincushion Flower's botanical name is Scabiosa columbaria while lavender is Lavandula.
Should pincushion be dead headed?
Hi Kathleen! Yes, it should be deadheaded. It will reward your effort with even more blooms!