‘Butterfly Blue’ Scabiosa
Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue'
‘Butterfly Blue’ is a popular, long-blooming perennial that forms a compact, low mound of gray-green, somewhat fuzzy basal foliage. It produces a continuous succession of slender, leafless stems topped with delicate, lavender-blue, pincushion-like flowers that hover above the foliage like butterflies in flight. Renowned for its exceptionally long bloom period from late spring through the first frost, it is a magnet for pollinators and an excellent choice for borders, rock gardens, or cottage gardens, thriving best in full sun and well-drained soil. It received the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
Type
Perennial
Height
15
-18
in
Width
15
-18
in
Foliage Type
Deciduous
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Water Requirements
Average; best in well-drained, moist, organically rich soil, tolerates some drought once established
Foliage Color
Gray-green to medium green
Flower Color
Lavender-blue
Resists
Attracts
Design Use
Special Traits
Notes
Pruning: Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming. In mid-summer, a hard shearing can help revitalize the plant and promote a bushier habit.
Maintenance: Requires excellent drainage to prevent crown rot, especially during wet St. Louis winters. It tends to struggle in heavy clay soils.
Fertilizing: Apply a light application of balanced granular fertilizer in early spring.
Habitat: Perfect for sunny borders, rock gardens, container plantings, or as a cut flower in arrangements.
Other: ‘Butterfly Blue’ is noted as one of the best Scabiosa cultivars for heat tolerance and flower production.
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