Scabiosa atropurpurea

‘Black Beauty’

Syn. Sixalix atropurpurea

BLACK BEAUTY PINCUSHIONS

Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black Beauty’
BLACK BEAUTY PINCUSHIONS
Syn. Sixalix atropurpurea

New release Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black Beauty’ is as close to black as a flower can get.

New kid on the block with enhanced flowering – even blacker 

‘Black Beauty’ is the new kid on the block – an even blacker version of  the old original ‘Black Knight’ – plus with enhanced flowering qualities.

As close to black as a flower can be

All gardeners since the 1600’s have loved the old ‘Black Knight’ Scabiosa.
But now ‘Black Beauty’ is a new kid on the block – even blacker, and not a dirty dull sooty black – instead a lustrous, rich, deeply satisfying black black-wine.

Super charged flower power

With super-charged flower-power from this newly bred, very welcome, new black Scabiosa.

Sweetly fragrant pincushions 

An added bonus is their sweet fragrance.

Continuous blooming through summer & autumn

Large, fluffy, fully double flowers are borne on long strong stems, and bloom continuously right through summer and autumn.
So ‘Black Beauty’ are delightful flowers for giving airy height to the garden but remaining “see-through” – like a veil of colour.

Commercial quality floristry flowers

Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black Beauty’ also delivers a long harvest season of commercial quality cut flowers, with a good vase life.

Easy to harvest

Flowers are borne atop long, slender, clean, multi-branching stems.
So they are perfect for incorporating into floral arrangements and easy to harvest.

Fashionable black colouring for modern bouquets & arrangements

Bunches of blooms are highly valued for floristry.
Especially so with that unusual black-wine colouring that contrasts so strikingly with any other colours.
And really pops with white.

Quick & easy to raise from seed

Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black Beauty’ is a very hardy and easy to grow annual.
This newly bred cultivar has all the easy growing of the old variety; is just as hardy; but improved colour and enhanced flowering.

Quick from seed to flower

It is easily raised from seed, and quick to reach flowering from sown seeds.
From seed sowing to flower harvest is approximately 12 – 15 weeks.

Leave them to do it alone

And once you have established flowering plants in the garden – if you leave some stems to go to seed at the end of autumn – they will happily sow themselves and provide the new generation of flowers for next year – without any further help from you.

Easy & hardy to grow

Plant Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black Beauty’ in sunny positions.

Tolerate a wide range of soils including clay

Where they will obligingly tolerate a wide range of soils including clay.

Bees & pollinators will love your ‘Black Beauty’ garden

Native bees, honey-bees, butterflies, and loads of other pollinators will love you to bits for planting ‘Black Beauty’.
The domed flower heads are rich in nectar, and because they bloom continuously our flying friends have a constant, abundant supply of food.

Tough & easy: Self sowing annual for massed flowers

60-90cm High in flower, with a mass of pincushion flowers on willowy, long, clean stems x 30cm Wide plant of feathery foliage.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Suits beginners & gardening with kids

Scatter seeds directly in the garden in early spring or autumn.
OR
Sow at any time of year in punnets indoors, when suitable temperatures can be provided (18-25°C).

Sow indoors for quick plants & early flowers: First sow the seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix. Then barely sprinkle with 3mm of sieved mix / vermiculite / fine sandy grit.
But do not bury, as these seeds need light to germinate.

Now thoroughly moisten the sown punnet by it standing in a shallow water bath, until the moisture has percolated up from below to the surface of the mix.

Then place the moist, sown punnet in a warm, well-lit position indoors (not in any direct sunlight).
You can also use a heat mat if you have one. But is is not essential, as these seeds are willing germinators.

Temperatures 18-25°C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.

Continue to keep moist by misting from a spray water bottle.
Covering the punnet with a clear lid, or plastic bag, will also help to maintain consistent, even moisture.
Remove the clear cover as soon as germination has started.

Seedlings usually emerge in approx. 7-14 days.

Seed Count: 10 seeds per pack approx. (Seeds of this new release are scarce). 
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

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