Scabiosa atropurpurea

Mournful Widow, Sweet Scabius, Egyptian Rose, Pincushion Flower, Mourning Bride

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

My blessings are for the Will of the Lord to be done, with full force and power. So it is not necessary that there should always be a success. There might be a failure also, if such is the Will of the Lord. And the Will is for the progress, I mean the inner progress. So whatever will happen will be for the best.

The Mother, Words of the Mother - I: Blessings

Varieties

Message of the Flower

Blessings

The Mother’s Comment

Pure and innumerable, manifesting themselves infinitely.

Colour

Pinkish-lavender, white

Message of the Flower

Blessings on the Material World

The Mother’s Comment

Puissant and innumerable, they answer all needs.

Colour

Deep purple, white

Family

Caprifoliaceae

Cultivars

Includes 'Ace of Spades', 'Chile Black', 'Beaujolais Bonnets'

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

2 to 3 inches across

Flower Texture

Soft, somewhat papery

Number of Petals

Numerous small florets

Floral Symmetry

Radial

Fragrance of Flower

Slightly sweet

Leaf Texture

Rough, hairy

Leaf Arrangement

Basal rosette, some upper stem leaves

Leaf Color

Green, sometimes greyish

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Herbaceous perennial

Life Cycle

Perennial in warmer climates, annual in colder zones

Blooming Period

Late spring to early fall

Climate

Temperate

Water Requirements

Moderate, well-drained but regular during dry periods

Soil Type

Rich, well-drained; sandy to loamy

Temperature Ranges

USDA zones 7-10; frost-sensitive

Sun or Shade

Full sun to part shade

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Powdery mildew, aphids

Pollinators

Bees, butterflies, other insects

Habitat

Mediterranean region, widely cultivated

Role in the Ecosystem

Nectar and pollen for pollinators

Quotations

None noted

Ornamental

Highly valued for flower form and color variety

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Cottage gardens, informal borders

Endangered Status

Not endangered