Scabiosa 'Kudo Blue'
Overview
Scabiosa 'Kudo Blue', commonly known as "Pincushion Flower", is a compact, free-flowering perennial that brings a charming touch of soft blue to garden beds, borders, and containers. Valued for its long blooming period and exceptional ease of care, it’s a must-have for gardeners looking to create a pollinator-friendly and low-maintenance garden.
Key Features
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Botanical Name: Scabiosa japonica var. alpina ‘Kudo Blue’
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Common Name: Pincushion Flower
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Flower Colour: Soft lavender-blue with a pincushion-like centre
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Foliage: Deep green, finely textured leaves
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Height: 30cm (1ft)
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Spread: 30cm (1ft)
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Flowering Period: May to September
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Hardiness: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -10 to -5 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H4)
Why Choose Scabiosa 'Kudo Blue'?
This delightful plant produces a profusion of flowers over several months, making it ideal for continuous colour in any garden setting. Its neat, mounded habit and prolific flowering make it especially suited for smaller gardens or patio pots where space is at a premium but impact is still desired. Unlike taller varieties, ‘Kudo Blue’ remains compact, meaning there’s no need for staking or excessive maintenance.
Ideal Growing Conditions
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Sunlight: Thrives in full sun but tolerates light shade
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Soil: Prefers well-drained soil; avoid waterlogged sites
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Watering: Water regularly during dry spells but allow soil to dry between waterings
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Feeding: A light application of balanced fertiliser in spring promotes robust growth and flowering
Care and Maintenance
Scabiosa 'Kudo Blue' is an easy-care plant. Deadheading spent blooms encourages further flowering and helps maintain a tidy appearance. It benefits from a light trim in late autumn or early spring to rejuvenate growth. Although hardy, a layer of mulch in winter can help protect roots in colder regions.
Attracts Pollinators
This variety is a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, making it a valuable addition to wildlife-friendly planting schemes. Its open flower structure provides easy access to nectar and pollen throughout the growing season.
Garden Uses
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Front of borders or mixed perennial beds
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Container planting for patios or balconies
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Rockeries and alpine-style gardens
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Cottage gardens and informal schemes
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Excellent cut flower for small arrangements
Companion Planting Ideas
Pairs beautifully with other low-growing perennials such as lavender, coreopsis, and dwarf grasses. For a soft and cohesive look, combine with silver-leaved plants like Stachys or Artemisia.
Final Thoughts
Scabiosa 'Kudo Blue' is a charming and reliable performer that adds elegance and softness to any garden. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this plant is sure to reward you with months of beautiful blooms and minimal fuss. A true garden gem.
Buying Herbs from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries our herbs are sold to plant out and grow on rather than instant culinary use. Unlike many supermarkets we grow them to help create a hardly plant with a good healthy root system that will grow to provide a good ‘clump’ producing to come.
Depending on the time of year you make your purchase herbs not look like the images on our website as they are trimmed back judiciously as required to prevent them from becoming leggy and untidy.
Herbs, as well as being beautiful sensory plants, are useful for home remedies and cooking. They smell lovely, look wonderful and you can use them—what could be better? There are two main ways of growing herbs, in containers or in the garden.
Planting and Conditions
The conditions required for planting varies between different herbs.
Basil, Bay, Caraway, Chives, Dill, Marjoram, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage and Thyme all prefer well-drained soils in full sun or partial shade. Rosemary in particular will not survive being frozen during the winter months.
Chervil, Coriander, Mint and French Tarragon all prefer partial sun or shade, and like well-drained to dry soil.
Herbs would also benefit greatly from being planted in raised beds, which usually offer the perfect conditions for growth, as they have well-drained soil and are more likely to catch the rays of sun needed for most herb varieties.
Aftercare and Pruning
There is no need to prune your herbs excessively, because you are likely to be using them regularly after they have established anyway. If any dead foliage is found, just remove it to encourage future growth.
Water your herbs at regular intervals, especially if they are being kept indoors. Bear in mind that the majority of herbs prefer well-drained, dryer soil, so resist the urge to overwater them.
Some herbs die back in winter. These will look after themselves. Some more tender herbs can only be grown if brought inside during the cooler months.
Potential Issues
Specific to rosemary and sage, the beautiful but destructive rosemary beetle feeds on the foliage and flowers of host plants. Simply picking them off can be effective, otherwise the use of pesticides should be employed if the case is severe. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions with regards to pesticides and herbs for culinary purposes.
Slugs and snails are prominent pests on herbs. Simply picking them off or using a beer trap is an effective way of dealing with the problem should it become a prominent issue.
Slug pellets should only be used as a last resort to avoid harming birds and other wildlife.
Grey mould may also occur on some herbs. While there are no approved fungicides for use against grey mould, some products containing plant and fish oil blends can be used. They are unlikely to have much impact, and simply removing affected parts of the plant can be effective.
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£6.99 | ||
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£9.99 |