SOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Depth:
Surface sow to barely cover (about 1/16")
Starting Indoors:
Recommended except in longer growing season areas. Start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost. Cover with a sprinkling of vermiculite to retain moisture, keep at 55-70°F.
Starting Outdoors:
Direct sow a couple of weeks before the last springtime frost.
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
Scabiosa stellata, or starflower, has a secret. The flowers are not why we grow them—they are wispy and the faintest blue imaginable. Instead, it's the ball-shaped golden folded-paper ornaments that develop after the bloom has vanished. An excellent dried flower to grow in cutting gardens and borders with good drainage, they may occasionally self-sow, especially in warmer climates.
Watering Details:
1” per week; somewhat drought tolerant once established.
Soil pH:
Neutral to slightly alkaline
Fertilizer:
If soil is poor, mix in a few inches of compost prior to planting. Too much fertilizer can impede blooming.
Diseases & Pests:
Avoid powdery mildew by spacing properly and in a location that has decent air circulation.
When to Cut for Bouquets:
When florets have fully opened or once seed heads have formed and are still shiny golden and green.