The Perennial Plant Association has selected Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’ as its Perennial Plant of the Year for 2000. Members of the association, which is made up primarily of professional plant growers, select a perennial each year in an effort to educate the gardening public and promote planting of perennial flowers.
Butterfly Blue is a long-blooming, versatile perennial that adapts well to full sun or light shade. The lavender-blue flower heads reach up to 2 inches in diameter, providing a blanket of color atop the 12-18 inch plants. Scabiosa performs best in soil that is well drained and rich with organic matter. Removing the old flowers as they fade will help keep the plants blooming from late spring until fall frost. A light mulch during summer will help keep the root zone cool and conserve soil moisture.
Also known as pincushion flower, the lacey, fine-textured blooms provide excellent attraction for butterflies. Butterfly Blue is also a good candidate for the front of the flower border or in container gardens, in addition to being a long-lasting cut flower. The plant is hardy throughout zones 3-7.
Scabiosa Butterfly Blue should be easily found at local garden centers, nurseries and through mail-order firms. If you haven’t yet had a chance to meet this versatile garden friend, plan to add it to your collection this coming year.