'Giant Blue'

Quick, what do 'Moonbeam' coreopsis, 'May Night' salvia, 'Goldsturm' rudbeckia and 'Butterfly Blue' scabiosa have in common?

Yes, they're all perennials produced in massive quantities in this country, but that's not what I was looking for. The correct answer is that they've all been named Perennial of the Year at some point by the Perennial Plant Association.

Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue' is the group's choice for 2000 and it's certainly worthy. It produces 1 1/2-inch lavender-blue flowers on 16-inch stems from spring to frost and can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10.

It's well suited for containers and for front borders of perennial beds and, as its name implies, it attracts butterflies. It is tolerant of many soils, but prefers a well-drained location. If planted in soggy areas, it is susceptible to root rots, especially in winter.

Massive appeal

Rika Bronsther, president of Willow Pond Nursery in Hewlett, N.Y., said scabiosa is terrific when planted in mass and should be used more commonly in this fashion. It can outshine even common annual bedding plants such as impatiens. Just make sure scabiosas are divided after two years or they will become matted and not bloom as well.

'Butterfly Blue' isn't the only scabiosa from which to choose. S. columbaria 'Pink Mist' is a pink-flowering patented variety very similar to 'Butterfly Blue.' Last year EuroAmerican Propagators in Bonsall, Calif., released 'Giant Blue,' a more vigorous grower than 'Butterfly Blue' with 3-inch, lavender-blue flowers.

Kieft Seeds Holland has three S. atropurpurea cultivars; 'QIS Dark Blue,' 'QIS Salmon-Pink' and 'QIS Scarlet;' two S. caucasica cultivars; 'Perfecta Dark Lavender' and 'Perfecta Clear Blue;' and a S. stellata cultivar, 'Drumstick.'

Uncommon varieties

If you're looking for rarer selections, here are Bronsther's favorite scabiosa cultivars. Each has great garden merit and is hardy in Zones 5-9:

S. caucasica 'Perfecta Alba.' Doesn't flower for as long as S. columbaria varieties, but produces white flowers on 18- to 24-inch stems in summer.

S. caucasica 'Fama.' Produces deep-blue flowers more than 3-inches across on 30- to 36-inch stems all summer.

S. caucasica 'Kompliment.' Bears dark-lavender and blue flowers on 24-inch stems throughout summer.

-- Todd Davis

SPECIFICS:
Name: Scabiosa
Common name: Pincushion flower, scabiosa.
Family: Dipsacaceae.
Description: Low- to medium-growing perennial with purple, blue, white or pink flowers. 'Butterfly Blue' was named Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year for 2000.
Hardiness: Some varieties grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10.
Landscape use: Can be used singularly or in mass in perennial beds. Also suitable for containers. Attracts butterflies.
Insects and diseases: Aphids and whiteflies. Susceptible to root rot, especially when planted in poorly draining areas.
For more" Perennial Plant Association, 3383 Schirtzinger Road, Hilliard, OH 43026; (614) 771-8431; fax (614) 876-5238; e-mail ppa@perennialplant.org; www.perennialplant.org . EuroAmerican Propagators, P.O. Box 289, Bonsall, CA 92003; (760) 731-6029; fax (760) 731-3054; e-mail Kpoehlman@aol.com; www.euroamprop.com . Kieft Seeds Holland, 2209-B Bulson Road, Mount Vernon, WA 99273; phone/fax (360) 445-2031. Rika Bronsther, Willow Pond Nursery, P.O. Box 192, Hewlett, NY 11557; (516) 374-2522; fax (516) 374-0533; www.willowpondnursery.com

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© 2000 Branch-Smith Publishing