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Herbaceous Perennial

Knautia macedonica Melton pastels

Macedonian scabious Melton pastels

Seed-raised, clump-forming perennials to 90cm tall, with lance-shaped, dark green basal leaves, finely divided stem leaves, and pincushion-like flower heads in a range of colours from deep red to mauve, pink and salmon, produced from early summer to autumn

Synonyms

Knautia arvensis 'Melton's Pastels'

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Caprifoliaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: 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

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a 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
Coastal
Cottage and informal 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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