Starflower Pincushions Scabiosa stellata

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Scabiosa stellata is commonly known as the Starflower Pincushions due to its unique and ornamental flower heads. The plant typically produces a rosette of basal leaves that are somewhat lance-shaped and a blue-green in color. The leaves may have a textured surface, with slight wrinkling and a hairy touch. As for the defining characteristic, the flowers bloom in a captivating display that resembles pins stuck into a cushion, hence the name "pincushion". The blooms themselves can be a soft lavender to grey-blue hue and are composed of small, tubular florets that form a dense, globular head. Around the central florets, there's a ruff of larger petals that create a starburst effect, enhancing the pincushion appearance. Adding to its charm, after the flowering season, the plant produces striking seed heads that are often dried and used in flower arrangements. These seed heads retain the spherical shape of the former flowers, but their texture becomes more prominent with a paper-like feel, featuring many small scaly bracts. The dried seed heads can be a muted brown or straw color, providing visual interest even after the blooming period has ended. In summary, the Starflower Pincushions plant is a delightful specimen known for its appealing foliage, unique blue to lavender pincushion-like flowers, and decorative seed heads that extend its ornamental value beyond the flowering season.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Caprifoliaceae.
- Synonyms
  Starflower Pincushions, Paper Moon Scabiosa, Drumstick Scabiosa.
- Common names
  Scabiosa stellata, Scabiosa prolifera, Scabiosa cretica.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Scabiosa stellata, commonly known as Starflower Pincushions, is not widely recognized as a poisonous plant to humans. There is limited information on its toxicity, and it does not appear on major lists of toxic plants. However, it is still advisable to avoid ingesting any part of this plant, as the potential toxicity of many plants may not be fully understood. In general, if a person ingests part of a plant not known to be safe for consumption, they could potentially experience gastrointestinal distress or other adverse reactions. If an individual believes they have been poisoned by any plant, they should seek medical attention immediately.
- To pets
  Starflower Pincushions is not commonly known to be toxic to pets. However, as with humans, the potential toxicity to pets such as dogs, cats, or other domestic animals is not well-documented. It is always a good practice to prevent pets from ingesting plants that are not confirmed to be safe, as they may experience digestive upset or other problems. If a pet shows symptoms of poisoning after ingesting any part of a plant, such as vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, or lethargy, it is important to consult a veterinarian.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Annuals
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Blue
- Height
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  5
- Native area
  Mediterranean

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts pollinators: Scabiosa stellata, commonly known as paper scabious, is known to attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, which are important for pollination in gardens and agriculture.
- Aesthetic Appeal: With its distinctive pincushion-like flowers and unique seed pods, paper scabious adds ornamental value to gardens and landscapes.
- Drought Tolerance: Scabiosa stellata is known to be drought-tolerant once established, making it a suitable choice for xeriscaping and low-water-use gardens.
- Erosion Control: The plant's root system can help stabilize soil and prevent erosion on slopes and in areas prone to losing topsoil.
- Cultural Significance: Paper scabious has been used in floral arrangements and crafts, often in dried flower displays due to the intriguing texture and shape of its seed heads.
- Wildlife Habitat: Scabiosa stellata can provide habitat and food for various wildlife, particularly when grown in naturalistic or wildflower gardens.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- As a dried flower in arrangements: Scabiosa stellata, commonly known as Starflower Pincushions, retains a beautiful texture and shape when dried, making them popular for long-lasting floral displays.
- In crafting: The interesting seed pods of Starflower Pincushions can be used in various crafts, including wreath making or as embellishments on handmade cards.
- Photography props: The unique shapes and forms of Scabiosa stellata flowers and seed heads can provide an intriguing focus for macro and still-life photography.
- Education: Starflower Pincushions can be used in botanical studies to illustrate the life cycle of a plant, from flowering to seed production.
- Eco-friendly confetti: The dried petals of Scabiosa stellata can be used as a biodegradable confetti alternative for celebrations and weddings.
- Natural fabric dyes: The flowers and seed heads may be used to create natural dyes for fabrics, yielding a variety of hues depending on the mordant used.
- Seed pod art: The characteristic seed pods can be painted or varnished and used in creating unique pieces of art or jewelry.
- Garden mulch: Once they have reached the end of their life in an arrangement, the dried parts of the Starflower Pincushions can be broken down and used as organic mulch in gardens.
- As decorative bookmarks: The dried stems and flowers can be laminated to create beautiful, nature-themed bookmarks.
- Textile design inspiration: The star-like form of Scabiosa stellata's seed heads could inspire patterns and motifs in textile and fashion design.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Starflower Pincushions is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Starflower Pincushions is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Admiration: Scabiosa stellata, commonly known as Starflower Pincushions, often symbolizes deep admiration due to their intricate and delicate star-shaped blooms.
- Love and Affection: The dainty and attractive flowers are commonly given as a representation of love and affection, suggesting a tender and attentive sentiment.
- Longevity and Success: In some traditions, the hardy nature of the plant stands for endurance, suggesting that it can symbolize wishes for long-lasting success and perseverance.
- Purity and Peace: The gentle appearance of Starflower Pincushions may be interpreted as an emblem of purity and the peaceful intentions behind a gesture of giving these flowers.
- Mystery and Curiosity: Starflower Pincushions, with their unique star-like form, can evoke a sense of mystery and curiosity, making them representative of an enigmatic beauty.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

50%

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The Paper Moon Scabiosa, commonly known as the Starflower Pincushion, should be watered deeply once a week, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. It is recommended to apply water directly to the base of the plant rather than overhead to minimize wetting the foliage, which can lead to fungal diseases. During the active growing season in spring and summer, you might need to water twice a week if the weather is particularly hot or windy. Generally, a total of 1 to 1.5 gallons per week should be sufficient for established plants, adjusted for rain, climate, and soil conditions.
Light
The Starflower Pincushion thrives in full sun to partial shade. Ideally, it should receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. The best spot for this plant is a location where it can bask in the morning sun and is protected from the intense heat of the late afternoon sun, especially in hotter climates.
Temperature
The ideal temperature conditions for the Starflower Pincushion are between 60°F and 75°F. It can tolerate a minimum temperature of approximately 30°F and a maximum temperature of up to 90°F. Outside of these ranges, the plant's growth may slow down or it may suffer from heat stress or cold damage.
Pruning
The Starflower Pincushion benefits from deadheading spent flowers to encourage continued blooming and prevent self-seeding if not desired. Pruning back the foliage after the first flowering can also promote a second bloom. Typically, pruning is done after each flush of blooms or as needed to maintain the plant's shape and size.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
For "Paper Moon" scabiosa, the best soil mix is well-draining with rich organic matter. A blend of loamy soil, compost, and sand or perlite works well. Aim for a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5 to encourage optimal growth and flowering.
Repotting
"Paper Moon" scabiosa does not need frequent repotting. Plan to repot every two to three years, ideally in the spring, to refresh the soil and allow room for root growth.
Humidity & Misting
The "Paper Moon" scabiosa prefers average room humidity levels. Excessive humidity can lead to fungal diseases, so a level around 40-60% is ideal for this plant.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place "Paper Moon" scabiosa in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil.
- Outdoor
  Grow "Paper Moon" scabiosa in full sun and space plants for air circulation.
- Hardiness zone
  4-9 USDA
Life cycle
Scabiosa stellata, commonly known as Starflower Pincushions, begins its life cycle as a seed, often undergoing a dormancy period before germination. Upon favorable conditions of moisture and temperature, the seed germinates, producing a small seedling with cotyledons (seed leaves) that push through the soil surface. This is followed by the vegetative stage, where the plant develops true leaves and a root system, enabling photosynthesis and nutrient uptake. As the plant matures, it enters the flowering stage, where buds develop and open into distinctive flowers attractive to pollinators. After pollination, these flowers produce seed heads that ripen and eventually release seeds, completing the cycle. In appropriate climates, Scabiosa stellata may act as a perennial, returning each year from the same root system while continuing to spread by seed dispersal.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to Summer
- Propogation: Scabiosa stellata, commonly known as Starflower Pincushions, is best propagated through seeds. The ideal time to sow Starflower Pincushions seeds is in spring after the last frost when the soil has warmed up. Begin by scattering the seeds onto a tray of pre-moistened, well-draining seed starting mix and lightly cover them with a thin layer of soil. Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged and place the tray in a warm area with plenty of indirect light. Germination typically occurs within 2 to 3 weeks. Once seedlings have developed a couple of sets of true leaves and are sturdy enough, they can be transplanted into the garden or pot of choice, spacing them about 12 inches (approximately 30 centimeters) apart to allow for growth and air circulation. It is essential to acclimate the seedlings to outdoor conditions gradually through a process called hardening off before planting them out.