pincushion flower

The pincushion flower should be watered about once a week, or when the soil is dry about 1-2 inches below the surface. Be careful not to over-water as the plant does not need a lot of moisture; it can even tolerate brief periods of drought. During the warmer months, water the plant lightly and more often to keep the soil slightly damp. As the plant enters its blooming cycle during the summer months, reduce watering slightly until the flower buds begin to dry and fade. After that, reduce watering until the plant is mostly dormant in the winter and resume a normal watering schedule in early spring.

Pincushion flower (Scabiosa japonica 'Blue Diamonds') requires full sun to partial shade with an average of 6-7 hours of direct sunlight per day, ideally in the morning or late afternoon. The plants can tolerate some light shade and may still bloom in slightly shadier conditions, particularly those with evening shade. Late afternoon shade is especially important in more southern regions to prevent sunburn and wilting caused by intense midday heat.

Pincushion flower (Scabiosa japonica 'Blue Diamonds') should be pruned regularly for optimal blooms. Pruning is best done in the spring when new growth appears, usually in March/April. Prune off the old stems a few inches down from the base and remove any dead or damaged leaves or stems. This will allow the plant to put energy into new growth which leads to more blooms. Pruning should continue in the summertime, once more blooms have appeared, by pinching the tips of the stems back as far as desired. This will encourage the plant to produce bushier growth which can lead to more blooms. Removing spent blooms throughout the growing season will also help to promote new blooms.