Plug Connection
Scabiosa Scoop™ Series
Of the items that you all have asked me to track down, this was the first that I was been able to find and bring to market. This is why I started this business- to give small scale American growers access to the same varieties as the huge corporate and international farms. These have theoretically been available to US growers before now, but at a high price and with a huge minimum purchase. By consolidating our buying power, we are now able to offer this exciting new crop to the smaller American flower grower!
So what makes these so special and worth the price? These are an interspecific hybrid of Scabiosa caucasica and Scabiosa atropurpurea (Think 'Fama' x 'Black Knight'). They have combined the strength and large flower size of the perennial types with the color range of the annual types, while leaving behind the tangled and brittle tendency of the annual types. They come with a healthy dose of hybrid vigor as well. A significant portion of the cost is to pay the royalty to the breeder of this amazing line. They are patent protected and propagation is strictly prohibited. Got it? We only get amazing new varieties like these if we play by the rules and give the breeders their share (which they clearly deserve).
These are known to be highly productive, producing up to 50 stems per plant per season. At current prices around $1 per stem, you stand to make back your initial investment in the first harvest. These plants get large. They are kind of rangy looking, but we aren't in the business of looking at plants, we're here to sell flowers, right? Recommended spacing is 12" between plants in a double row in a standard 30-36" bed. Scabiosa doesn't love heat, so establish during your cool season. While they are frost tolerant, they are not hardy in exposed areas of hard freezing.
Order 7 or more weeks in advance of desired ship date.
Plug Connection is producing Scoop and Skyler in a 50 cell FULL TRAY so they will be a bit larger than what we offer through Gro n Sell.
Fall shipping of these products is available weeks 40-46. Spring dates will be posted on Oct. 1.
Click HERE to view the cultural tutorial from Danziger
Learn More: Scoop Scabiosa Growing Guide
About Tray Sizes
210 and 125 cell trays are full-sized trays, and three of these will fit in a shipping box.
50 cell trays are half-sized trays (unless otherwise noted) and two of these are the equivelent of one full sized tray. Six of these will fit in a shipping box.
18 and 32 cell trays are full sized trays specifically for our vernalized perennials. These have their own set of shipping rules (find details HERE) and cannot be combined with items grown in 210, 125, or 50 cell trays.
Growing Guides
Click here to access all of our comprehensive growing guides.
| Common Name | Scabiosa |
| Genus |
Scabiosa
|
| Species |
Hybrid of S. atropurpurea and S. caucasica
|
| Family |
Caprifoliaceae
|
| Life Cycle |
Tender perennial, usually treated as annual.
|
| Format | Plugs |
| Plug Care |
Transplant within 2 weeks of arrival or bump up into a larger cell until you can transplant.
|
| Netting / Staking |
1 layer of support netting.
|
| Temperature Range | 32 to 80F |
| Spacing |
2 rows per bed, 12" between plants. These get very large.
|
| Soil Preference |
Well drained soil of medium fertility.
|
| Day Length |
Facultative long day.
|
| Pinching |
Yes. Plugs will likely be pinched on arrival. If not, pinch out the tip once growth resumes after transplant.
|
| When to Plant |
Fall or spring, when soil is cool (below 55F). They prefer cool frost free conditions.
|
| Harvesting |
These are extremely productive, easily producing 20-30 stems per plant. Harvest when 1/3 of the florets are open, or when the first ring of florets has opened around the outside of the flower.
|
| Post Harvest Care |
A holding solution will increase vase life.
|
| Diseases / Insects |
No major issues in most settings.
|
| Bailey's Notes |
Scoop Scabiosa have revolutionized the use of Scabiosa in the cut flower world. They are larger and longer lasting than their predecessors. The main complaint is that they are TOO productive. Keep spent flowers cut off to encourage more bloom production. In hot summer locations, the plants may stop production for a couple months and then regrow as autumn temperatures settle in. Cut back the plant to a few inches and allow to regrow.
|
| Resources | Danziger Scabiosa Growing Guidelines & Updates (downloads as .pdf) |