Scabiosa Pingpong

Scabiosa ‘Pingpong’ delights with pale blue summer flowers that offer little hint of the real show to come — its striking, silvery, ball-shaped seed heads, framed by maroon and green bracts. These unique seed heads make fantastic cut flowers and dry beautifully for year-round display.

🌸 Flowering: June to August, then seed heads lasting well into autumn

📏 Height: to 60cm

🌿Annual

SOW: from March to May, sow in trays or modules under cover, or directly once it’s warm enough. Cover lightly with vermiculite or fine compost. Be patient—Scabiosa stellata can take 4 weeks or more to germinate.

You can also sow in late summer or early autumn and overwinter plants in a cold frame or sheltered spot for earlier blooms the following year.

GROW: harden off and plant out after all risk of frost has passed. For a natural drift, plant 15–20cm apart; in a cutting garden, space in rows about 30cm apart. They like a sunny position with well-drained soil.

ENJOY: light blue blooms in summer give way to spectacular seed heads that steal the show — perfect for cutting fresh or drying for lasting interest.

📌USES

Wildlife-friendly

The light blue flowers are attractive to bees and other pollinators, providing a valuable nectar source in early summer. The seed heads aren’t just ornamental — they may also offer shelter or interest for garden insects later in the season.

Suits

• Wildlife-friendly gardens
• Cutting gardens (fresh and dried)
• Gravel or drought-tolerant planting
• Sunny borders or raised beds
• Informal and cottage-style planting