Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower) in Zone 3a & 3b

Scabiosa atropurpurea

When to plant scabiosa (pincushion flower) in zone 3b

Zones 3a and 3b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.

Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower) needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.

Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-2.5 ft.

Scabiosa is the one most people know by its common name, pincushion flower, which describes it better than the botanical one does: a domed centre studded with pale stamens sitting on a ring of petals, on a stem thin enough that the flower nods when the wind gets up.

How scabiosa (pincushion flower) fits zone 3's season

Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower) needs about 120 days from transplant to first harvest.

Good companions

No standout companions recorded yet for Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower).

Where to buy scabiosa seeds

• Botanical Interests
• True Leaf Market
• Burpee
• High Mowing Organic Seeds

See why we recommend these suppliers →

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See it growing

Search YouTube for "growing scabiosa (pincushion flower)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)

← Back to the full zone 3b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

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Growing Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower) in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.

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