Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower) in Zone 7a & 7b

Scabiosa atropurpurea

When to plant scabiosa (pincushion flower) in zone 7b

Zones 7a and 7b 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.

Start indoorsFeb 20–Feb 27
Direct sow / transplant outsideApr 17–Apr 24
Estimated bloomAug 15–Aug 22 (~120 days after transplanting)

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

Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower)
Photo: Javier martin via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain, cropped.

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 7's season

Zone 7b's frost-free window runs about 198 days, from April 10 to October 25. 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

See why we recommend these suppliers →

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a genuine consensus of positive, independent reviews. See the sources cited on each item.

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 7b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

Growing Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower) in USDA zone 7b

Pin this for later

Growing Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower) in USDA zone 7b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.

Save to Pinterest