Some people love the frothy look of the sparser Scabiosa varieties, but if you’re after more flower power, Scabiosa ‘Blue Eyes’ is the plant for you!

How to grow Scabiosa ‘Blue Eyes’ Flowering time: April to July Location: Patio pots, cottage gardens, rockeries, wildlife gardens, coastal gardens Soil: Fertile, well drained neutral-to-alkaline soil Light: Full sun Water: Water while establishing and throughout dry spells Care: Deadhead faded blooms to encourage reflowering. Lift and divide overcrowded clumps in spring. Size: 15cm height x 30cm spread

What’s different about this Scabiosa ‘Blue Eyes’?

Scabiosa ‘Blue Eyes’ stands out for its exceptional combination of compact growth and bountiful flowering. This very pretty plant can produce up to 50 flowers on a single plant, forming low, neat mounds that are perfect for pots. Its lilac blooms attract butterflies and bees, making it a fantastic choice for adding to a thriving wildlife garden. Additionally, its exceptionally fast growth ensures that ‘Blue Eyes’ will establish and spread quickly in any garden.

How was Scabiosa ‘Blue Eyes’ created?

Scabiosa ‘Blue Eyes’ is the result of meticulous breeding efforts by the Seoha Breeding Institute in Korea, led by Dr. Kim and Mr. Kwan. These passionate plant breeders specialise in perennial plants such as Stokesia, Scabiosa, and Lychnis. Their passion for plant breeding and extensive knowledge are evident in their innovative work. They frequently go plant hunting and utilise local Korean species in their breeding programs.

The breeding of Scabiosa ‘Blue Eyes’ began with addressing the shortcomings of existing Scabiosa varieties. Many varieties had beautiful flowers but suffered from tall, unsightly stems that were prone to falling or winding. Additionally, these varieties did not produce an abundance of flowers, and those grown from seeds often had non-uniform flower shapes and produced only a few stems, reducing their commercial value.

To overcome these challenges, Dr. Kim and Mr. Kwan started crossing Scabiosa species with tall stems and those with short stems, aiming to combine the best characteristics of both. After many generations of careful selection and recrossing, ‘Blue Eyes’ was chosen for its compact, dense growth habit and the ability to produce numerous flowers on very short stems. This makes ‘Blue Eyes’ a superior selection in terms of aesthetics and practicality.

Benefits for Growers

Scabiosa ‘Blue Eyes’ offers several advantages for growers. Its growth habit is ideal for easily filling 30cm diameter pots with just one cutting. This efficiency makes it an attractive plant for commercial cultivation. Moreover, ‘Blue Eyes’ exhibits high resistance to fungal diseases, powdery mildew, mites and aphids. In Korea, where the plant was developed, it has shown excellent resistance to these common garden pests and diseases, further cementing its appeal as a robust and low-maintenance plant.

Where can you plant Scabiosa ‘Blue Eyes’?

As mentioned, this Scabiosa would look just fabulous in pots amongst a selection of taller plants. However, it’s not limited to containers! Plant ‘Blue Eyes’ in rockeries, at the front of beds, as ground cover or on a balcony. It’s certainly a versatile plant when positioned in full sun with well-draining soil!

Where can you buy Scabiosa ‘Blue Eyes’?

Scabiosa ‘Blue Eyes’ is available in the UK at Thompson & Morgan and Dobies.

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