Scabiosa atropurpurea QIS Black Purple | Sweet Scabious

Scabiosa atropurpurea QIS Black Purple, also known as Sweet Scabious, is a striking annual variety from the highly regarded QIS series selected for its uniform growth, tall stems, and floristry-grade flower quality. This variety produces large, dark purple to nearly black pincushion flowers atop long, sturdy stems.

QIS Black Purple is a prolific bloomer that performs beautifully in the garden and as a cut flower. It also dries well, making it suitable for fresh arrangements, dried bouquets, and wildlife-friendly planting schemes. Bees and butterflies are especially attracted to its nectar-rich blooms.

Key Features:

• Deep, velvety black-purple blooms with pincushion form
• Long, straight stems perfect for cutting and floral design
• Fast-growing annual blooms approx. 7580 days from sowing
• Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
• QIS = Quality in Seed uniform, professional-grade variety
• Height: 8090 cm
• Uses: cut flowers, dried flowers, cottage gardens, pollinator habitats

Sowing Instructions:

Sowing Indoors (Recommended):

• Timing: MarchApril (or SeptOct for overwintering)
• Depth: Sow 3 mm deep in trays or pots with moist, well-drained seed compost
• Germination: 710 days at 1520C
• Transplanting: Pot on into 8 cm pots once large enough to handle
• Acclimatisation: Harden off seedlings for 1015 days before planting outside
• Plant spacing: 3040 cm apart
• Flowering period: June to October
• Sowing Outdoors:
• Timing: From May (once frost risk has passed)
• Method: Sow directly in finely raked soil, 3 mm deep in rows 30 cm apart
• Thinning: Thin to 30 cm once seedlings are established
• Note: Thin gently and replant thinned seedlings elsewhere if desired

Autumn Sowing (Cold Frame Method):

• Sow in September/October in trays or pots and place in a cold frame for overwintering
• Transplant the following spring for earlier flowering

Growing Instructions:

• Prefers full sun and well-drained soil
• Water moderately; avoid waterlogging
• No need to pinch out tops
• Deadhead spent blooms to prolong flowering
• Avoid heavy feeding too much nitrogen can reduce blooming
• Allow some seedheads to mature if you want natural self-seeding

Cut Flower & Vase Life Tips:

• Harvest stage: When buds are just starting to open or showing colour
• Vase life: 7 to 10 days
• Tips: Cut in the morning, place stems in warm water immediately
• Drying: Wait until leaves drop, then hang upside down in small bunches

Ideal For:

• Cottage and informal gardens
• Cut flower production
• Floral arranging
• Borders and pollinator-friendly plantings