Scabiosa atropurpurea Cherry Vanilla Scoop

Scabiosa Cherry Vanilla Scoop is part of a new series of scabious with spectacular fruity colours, initially developed for cut flowers. This variety bears almost bicolour inflorescences resembling frizzy pompoms, in a gradient of violet, purple, pink, and white from the centre to the periphery. With its texture and extraordinary colour, this flower works wonders in bouquets. It is also ideal in planters and among other flowers in sunny flower beds. This short-lived perennial flowers abundantly throughout summer if care is taken to remove faded flowers. It is easy to grow in the sun and in well-drained soil. It easily self-seeds in the garden, but not always true to the parent plant.

Scoop scabious were selected by Danziger, in Kenya. Their genealogy is kept secret, as is often the case with new horticultural varieties, especially in the cut flower industry. It can be assumed, however, that they carry the genes of Scabiosa atropurpurea, native to southern Europe. All these plants belong to the Caprifoliaceae family.

Cherry Vanilla Scoop develops from a deep and extensive root system. This plant is often grown as an annual, although it is actually a short-lived perennial. It quickly forms a robust, upright clump, 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in) tall when in flower, and 20 to 30cm (8 to 12in) wide. The foliage is composed of finely cut, coarsely dentate, lanceolate leaves, of a light greenish-grey hue. It emerges from the neck of the plant, forming a more or less flat rosette close to the ground. It disappears in winter.

The flowering takes place from July to October. The plant produces numerous slender but sturdy stems, each bearing a single dome-shaped flower head, 5 to 7cm (2 to 3in) in diameter. The head is composed of a multitude of tiny frizzy flowers surrounding a convex centre paved with darker floral buds, which open at a later time. On the periphery, the flowers offer a beautiful gradient of shades ranging from purple to pink and white. The stamens resemble miniature white pinheads. The slightly scented flowering is both nectar-rich and honey-bearing.

This queen of traditional gardens has been slightly neglected in recent years, but is making a strong comeback, with extraordinary colours like the Cherry Vanilla Scoop variety. It is sublime in bouquets with anise green or lime green flowers of certain hydrangeas. They are graceful and elegant, and far from austere as their common name "Gloomy Widow" suggests. This plant is an excellent choice for both flower beds and containers. Combine scabious with carnations, love-in-a-mist, cosmos, cornflowers, asters, grasses, or rudbeckias to create an interesting contrast. Scabious flowers are ideal for rustic-style bouquets, lasting 10 days in a vase. Roses, delphiniums, ageratum, phlox, and dahlias will make beautiful companions in a floral display.