pincushions
Scabiosa L.
A genus overview; characteristics vary between its species.
Scabiosa flowers are gathered into compact heads that stand above the foliage on long stalks. What appears to be one blossom is a group of many small flowers, enclosed at the base by leafy bracts. The genus includes annual and perennial herbs, with some plants becoming woody at the base. Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney PlantNET: Scabiosa
Botanical name
Scabiosa L. is an accepted genus in Caprifoliaceae. The catalog identifies the genus, so no particular species or cultivar is assigned here. Kew POWO: Scabiosa
Recognizing the plant
Opposite leaves may be simple or deeply divided, and their form can differ between the lower and upper parts of the plant. Each small corolla usually has five unequal lobes and four stamens. Flowers around the edge are often longer and more asymmetric than those in the centre. The calyx forms bristles that persist as the fruit develops. A separate ribbed envelope around each fruit expands into a thin, often veined crown. Kew POWO: Scabiosa, regional flora descriptions
Native range
The native range spans temperate Eurasia, the Atlantic islands of Macaronesia and northern Africa, with another broad African distribution from Eritrea southward. This extensive range includes many distinct species rather than a single uniformly distributed pincushion plant. New South Wales records cultivated members that have become naturalised outside that native range. Kew POWO: ScabiosaRoyal Botanic Gardens Sydney PlantNET: Scabiosa
Botanical sources
- Kew POWO: Scabiosa
- Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney PlantNET: Scabiosa
- Kew POWO: Scabiosa, regional flora descriptions
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.