Gelbe Skabiose

Season Overview

Description

The yellow scabious or yellow scabious (Scabiosa ochroleuca) is a plant species from the genus Scabiosa. The original distribution area of the yellow scabious extends from Germany to Mongolia. It is a neophyte in Great Britain and France, among other places. In Germany, the yellow scabious occurs in the eastern low mountain range and in the eastern part of the North German lowlands. It is considered endangered in Germany. It does not occur in western Austria, but is common in the Pannonian region. Yellow scabious thrives in Central Europe in dry grasslands, dry meadows, embankments, railway embankments, and even on slag heaps. It is somewhat calcareous and grows from the colline to the montane altitude zone. It is a biennial to perennial herbaceous plant that reaches heights of 20 to 60 centimeters. The stem is usually branched and often heavily hairy. The basal leaves are usually simple pinnate with an ovate-lanceolate terminal leaflet, hairy on the underside at the veins. The opposite, middle stem leaves are simple to doubly pinnate, with short, curly hairs. The terminal lobes are barely wider than the lateral lobes. The capitate inflorescence has a diameter of 1.5 to 3.5 centimeters and is surrounded by bracts. The flowers are hermaphroditic with an outer calyx. The marginal flowers are radiant. The calyx has five striking fox-red (later brownish) calyx bristles. The pale to light yellow, fused-leaved corolla is five-lobed. Yellow scabious blooms from July to November and fruits from July to December. The fruit is a nut (achene). Pollination is mainly carried out by bees, bumblebees, and hoverflies, but to a lesser extent also by other insects. The dispersal of the diaspores is carried out by the wind.

Growing tips

🌱 Pre-cultivation - From the beginning/mid-March - From April in an unheated cold frame - Fine, well-drained sowing soil - No heavily fertilized soil (scabiosas like it rather lean) - Only press seeds down lightly (light germinator) - Germination temperature: 18-20 °C - Germination time: 7-14 (21) days - Evenly slightly moist, never wet. - Keep cooler after germination (approx. 12-15 °C) - Plenty of light - Prick out when 2-3 true leaves are present - Harden off: end of April/beginning of May - Plant in the bed after the last frosts - Planting distance: 25-35 cm 🌼 Direct sowing - Direct sowing: from April/May - Press seeds only lightly (light germinator) - Planting distance: 25-35 cm, depending on variety 🌞 Location - Full sun - the more sun, the more flowers - Airy, but not draughty - Ideal for flower beds, natural gardens, dry beds and as a cut flower 🌱 Soil - Well-drained, rather poor to normally nutrient-rich - Slightly moist, no waterlogging - Work in sand or fine gravel 💧 Care - Water moderately - Allow the top layer to dry out between waterings - Remove faded leaves regularly - Lightly fertilize in early summer 🌾 Overwintering - Annual varieties die back - Perennial species (e.g. Scabiosa caucasica) are usually hardy: ◦ light winter protection from leaves or brushwood ◦ good drainage in winter 🐝 Insect magnet Scabiosas are extremely popular with bees, butterflies and hoverflies - perfect for natural gardens. 🌼 Good neighbors - Yarrow, catnip, lavender, sage - Magnificent candle, echinacea, girl's eye - Feather grass, love grass, blue fescue - Verbena, oregano, thyme - Tomatoes, peppers & chili, zucchini & pumpkin - Beans, peas - Garlic & onions - Carrots, beet - Summer lilac, dog rose, wild roses - Sea buckthorn, rock pear, currants & gooseberries 🚫 Bad neighbors - Astilbe, funkia, ferns, ragwort - Phlox, delphinium, mint, goldenrod - Woodruff, fairy flower, heuchera - Salads, cabbages, celery, spinach & chard, cucumbers - Hydrangeas, rhododendrons & azaleas, privet - Willows, dogwood 🦠 Common diseases - Powdery mildew - Root rot - Leaf spot diseases 🐛 Typical pests - Aphids - snails - thrips - Caterpillars

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Dry

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Low

Light germinator

Germination temperature

15 - 20 °C (Degrees Celsius)

Plant distance

30 cm

Row spacing

30 cm

Seeding depth

0.2 cm