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Herbaceous Perennial

Knautia macedonica
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

Macedonian scabious

A clump-forming perennial to 80cm in height, with pinnately-lobed, dark green basal leaves to 8cm long, and simple or lobed stem leaves, with a succession of deep crimson pincushion-like flowerheads 3-4cm across, from mid to late summer

Synonyms
Scabiosa rumelica
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Red Green
Autumn Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Caprifoliaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous or Semi evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
Genus

Knautia can be annuals or perennials, and may have simple or pinnately lobed leaves and scabious-like flower-heads

Name status

Correct

Plant range
C Europe

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained, preferably alkaline soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed in pots in a cold frame in spring or propagate by basal softwood cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Prairie planting
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Spent flower stems can be cut down after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to Powdery mildews

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