- Botanical name: Scabiosa atropurpurea 'Black Cat'
- Common name: Scabious
- Family: Caprifoliaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous
Purple
Red
Green
- Key features:
- Attractive to wildlife
- Flowers
Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black Cat’ is a glorious scabious, bearing dark crimson, delicately fragranced pincushions on tall, wiry stems. It’s a fantastic choice for a mixed herbaceous border, gravel garden or prairie-type planting scheme, and it makes a wonderful cut flower. Its blooms are loved by bees, butterflies and hoverflies alike.
Grow Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black Cat’ in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Try it among ornamental grasses or alongside lime-green chrysanthemums. Cut back after flowering or leave seedbeds in place for the birds. Plants may need staking.
How to grow Scabiosa 'Black Cat'
-
Plant size
85cm height
45cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Middle
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Acidic / chalky / alkaline / clay / heavy / moist / well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sow | ||||||||||||
Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do Sow in March |
A
Do Sow in April |
M
Do not Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do not Sow in September |
O
Do not Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
Plant | ||||||||||||
Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
Flowers | ||||||||||||
Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
Divide | ||||||||||||
Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do Divide in March |
A
Do Divide in April |
M
Do not Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do not Divide in September |
O
Do Divide in October |
N
Do Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
Prune | ||||||||||||
Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do not Prune in March |
A
Do not Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do not Prune in June |
J
Do not Prune in July |
A
Do not Prune in August |
S
Do not Prune in September |
O
Do Prune in October |
N
Do not Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
Scabiosa 'Black Cat' and wildlife
Scabiosa 'Black Cat' is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, birds, butterflies/moths and other pollinators. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers and has seeds for birds.
Attractive to Bees
Attractive to Beneficial insects
Attractive to Birds
Attractive to Butterflies/Moths
Attractive to Other pollinators
Is Scabiosa 'Black Cat' poisonous?
Scabiosa 'Black Cat' has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People