Botanical Name: Scabiosa columbaria ‘Butterfly Blue’ Common Name: Pincushion Flower Hardiness Zone: Perennial in USDA Zones 3–9 Size: 12–18" Tall × 12–18" Spread Growth Habit: Compact, Mounding, Well-Branched Habit Sunlight: Full Sun Soil: Well-Drained Soil; Tolerates Lean, Sandy, or Rocky Soils Water Needs: Low to Moderate; Drought Tolerant Once Established Bloom Season: Late Spring through Fall Fertilizer: Light Feeding in Spring; Avoid Excess Fertility Features: Lavender-Blue Pincushion Blooms, Exceptionally Long Bloom Season, Pollinator Magnet, Excellent Cut Flower Uses: Perennial Beds, Borders, Pollinator Gardens, Containers, Cut Flower Gardens

Patent: ❌ Not Patented Propagation: ✔ Propagation Permitted

See our Scabiosa Plant Guide for more in depth care details on Salvia.

More About Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’

Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’ is one of the most dependable long-blooming perennials available, producing a steady stream of soft lavender-blue pincushion flowers from late spring until frost. The blooms are held just above compact foliage, creating an airy, floating effect that adds movement and lightness to garden designs. This variety is especially valued for its consistency—it blooms earlier than many perennials and continues long after others fade, particularly when spent flowers are removed.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, ‘Butterfly Blue’ has been a workhorse perennial, thriving in full sun, heat, and lean soils where many plants struggle. It maintains a tidy habit, rarely flops, and continues flowering through summer with minimal care. We especially appreciate its pollinator performance. Bees and butterflies visit constantly, making it a cornerstone plant for pollinator gardens and wildlife-friendly landscapes.

Butterfly Blue vs. Other Scabiosa Varieties

Butterfly Blue delivers a bolder, more saturated lavender-blue color with noticeably stronger visual impact in the landscape than Scabiosa Pink Mist. Butterfly Blue also tends to be the most vigorous grower of the three, producing a higher volume of blooms over a longer season. Against Flutter™ Pure White, it reads warmer and more vibrant, standing out as the most eye-catching option in mixed borders. Its strong stems and consistent reblooming make it better suited for high-traffic garden areas where performance matters most. For gardeners who want maximum color, durability, and nonstop flowering, Butterfly Blue is the top-performing choice.