Scabiosa atropurpurea Chile Black

Scabiosa Chile Black, also known as black scabious, has dark flowers of beautiful intensity. These flowers are at the end of thin, branching stems with beautiful scented heads, evoking light pompoms or a jewels, dotted with white stamens. This short-lived bushy perennial blooms for a long time if faded flowers are removed. Perfectly hardy, it is a truly reliable and easy-to-grow plant, in sunny and well-drained soil. It self-seeds easily in the garden.

Scabiosa atropurpurea, also known as dark purple scabious, is a plant of the Dipsacaceae family, native to southern Europe, developing from a deep and extensive root system. This plant is often grown as an annual, although it is actually a short-lived perennial. The selection 'Chile Black' stands out for its floribundance and particularly dark colour. It forms a robust, bushy and erect clump, 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24in) tall, 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12in) wide, with very rapid growth. The deciduous foliage is composed of finely cut, coarsely dentate, lanceolate leaves, with a grey-blue tint. It originates at the collar of the plant, forming a flat rosette close to the ground. Flowering takes place from July to October. Each plant produces up to 400 flowers and many stems, each carrying a single domed floral head, 5 cm (2in) in diameter, composed of numerous tiny black-purple flowers. The stamens resemble white and miniature pinheads. The fragrant flowering is highly melliferous and nectariferous.

This queen of old-fashioned gardens, somewhat neglected in recent years, is making a strong comeback, with extraordinary colours like the Chile Black variety, which is also remarkably robust. They are graceful and elegant. Scabiosa atropurpurea is an excellent choice for borders, but also for making bouquets. Combine these plants with Sweet Williams, Damask nigellas, cosmos, cornflowers, asters, grasses or rudbeckias to create an interesting contrast... Rustic bouquets can be composed with the flowers of scabious, which last 10 days in a vase.