Knautia macedonica
Macedonian scabious
Common names: Macedonian knautia, Balkan scabious
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Pot size
- from 10 l
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Flowering
- Jun–Sep
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to −25 °C
- Water need
- Low
Photo: Photo by and (c)2008 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man). Co-attribution must be gi… · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Macedonian scabious, botanically Knautia macedonica, comes from dry meadows and mountain slopes of the Balkans. Above a rosette of lobed to pinnately divided leaves, round flower heads in deep wine red float on thin, branched stems, resembling pincushions. The perennial grows 50 to 80 cm tall and appears airy, so one can see through it. From June to September it blooms tirelessly if spent flowers are cut off regularly. Bees, bumblebees and butterflies visit it readily. In the garden it suits sunny perennial beds, gravel gardens and flower meadows, where alongside grasses and sage it adds a deep red. Honestly, it is short-lived and often remains only three to five years. It self-seeds, however, and the seedlings do not always come out the same color.
Care instructions
Plant Macedonian scabious in spring or in September in a full-sun, warm spot with permeable soil, leaving 40 cm of space to its neighbors. Water it during dry spells in the first summer; later it usually manages on rainfall. No fertilizer is needed. Cut spent flowers back to the next side shoot, and it will bloom into September. If you leave some heads standing from late August, it will self-seed. Because the plant stays vigorous for only a few years, let seedlings grow or take cuttings in spring. In late autumn or in February, shorten the flower stems. Waterlogging and rich, heavy soil are the most common mistakes.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
SowingMar–May
FloweringJun–Sep
Germination
- Soil temperature
- from 10 °C, ideally 18 °C
- Days to sprout
- 14 to 28 days
- Light
- Sprouts in light or dark
- Sowing depth
- 0.5 cm
- How to start
- Start indoors, then plant out
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, sandy, loamy, lean
Macedonian scabious grows best in free-draining, rather lean to moderately nutrient-rich soil. Sandy loam is ideal, and it also tolerates chalky soil well. On rich, moist soil it turns soft and leggy and often gives up after just a few years. Where the soil stays wet in winter, mix in plenty of sand or grit before planting, or set it on a slight rise.
Feeding
Light feeder
Macedonian scabious needs no fertiliser. On nutrient-rich soil it grows lushly, but topples over and flowers worse. Only on very poor sandy soil is a thin layer of compost in spring acceptable. In a container, it is enough to swap the top layer of soil for fresh, free-draining soil in spring.
Overwintering
Macedonian scabious is hardy and survives frost down to about minus 25 degrees in the bed without protection. Only winter wet is harmful, as it makes the roots rot. Cut the flower stems back in late autumn or in February and leave the leaves at ground level. In a container, place the pot against a sheltered house wall, protect it from lasting rain and water only on frost-free days.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
- Cuttings
- Division
The best way to propagate Macedonian scabious is by sowing or cuttings. From March, sow the seeds on seed compost, cover them only thinly and keep them evenly moist at about 20 degrees. Germination can drag on for weeks, so be patient. From April to May you can also sow directly in the bed. Cultivars don't come true from seed. In spring, cut basal shoots about 8 cm long and insert them in seed compost; this is how a cultivar is kept. Division is also possible in spring, but doesn't always work with this perennial. Older plants self-seed on free-draining soil.
For your garden
Grow Macedonian scabious yourself
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