Overview
Scabiosa 'Kudo White', also known as the "White Pincushion Flower", is a delightful compact perennial renowned for its elegant, creamy-white blooms and exceptionally long flowering period. Ideal for everyday gardeners, this variety offers a perfect blend of beauty, resilience, and pollinator appeal, making it a versatile addition to borders, containers, and wildlife-friendly planting schemes.
Botanical Name: Scabiosa japonica var. alpina ‘Kudo White’
Common Name: Pincushion Flower
Flower Colour: Crisp white with a soft central cushion
Foliage: Delicate, mid-green, finely cut leaves
Height: 50cm (1.6ft)
Spread: 50cm (1.6ft)
Flowering Period: June through to September
Hardiness: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -15 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H5)
Why Grow Scabiosa 'Kudo White'?
‘Kudo White’ brings a refined and airy look to gardens, with blooms that stand out beautifully against green foliage. Its compact growth habit makes it especially suitable for small spaces and containers, while its prolific flowering nature means you'll enjoy waves of fresh blooms throughout the season. It's an easy-to-grow perennial, perfect for gardeners of all experience levels.
Sunlight: Prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade
Soil: Performs best in well-drained soil; avoid heavy clay or overly damp areas
Watering: Moderate watering needed; allow soil to dry out slightly between waterings
Feeding: Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring to support flowering and healthy foliage
Care and Maintenance
Scabiosa 'Kudo White' is low-maintenance and rewarding. Regular deadheading helps extend the blooming period and keeps the plant looking fresh. Trim back lightly after the first flush of flowers if desired, and tidy up foliage in late autumn. Mulching in winter can offer additional protection during colder months.
Pollinator Friendly
A favourite among bees, butterflies, and hoverflies, this plant is an excellent choice for supporting garden biodiversity. Its accessible nectar-rich blooms make it a reliable food source throughout the growing season.
Front of mixed borders or cottage garden displays
Container planting for patios, balconies, or courtyard gardens
Rock gardens or alpine-style settings
Wildlife or pollinator gardens
Elegant filler for floral arrangements and hand-tied bouquets
Companion Planting Suggestions
For a soft, romantic effect, plant alongside lavender, soft pink geraniums, or silvery foliage plants like Artemisia. For more vibrant contrast, pair with rich purple salvias or vibrant heucheras.
Final Thoughts
Scabiosa 'Kudo White' is a charming and versatile perennial that offers lasting beauty with very little fuss. Whether you're aiming to create a peaceful garden sanctuary or simply looking to add a reliable bloomer to your collection, this pincushion flower is a superb choice. Its graceful form and pollinator appeal make it a garden essential that you’ll enjoy season after season.
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.