Cephalaria Species, Giant Pincushion Flower, Giant Scabious, Yellow Scabious

The big bold pinnate foliage is as valuable when young as the creamy, pale yellow flowers. The leaves form a low dense mound, while the t...Read Moreall wiry see-through flower stems above can reach 7'. The foliage takes up a lot of bed
space, but it stays low.

The flowers are good in cut arrangements, and in the garden they attract many beneficial pollinators. They show best against a dark background like a yew hedge. They aren't usually produced in great profusion. The flower stems tend to lodge in less than full sun and on windy sites. Cutting back hard promptly after flowering can induce rebloom.

The foliage tends to deteriorate as the summer progresses. This plant does not like heat or drought.

Self-sows lightly where happy.

This is great perennial for the back of your border. It's getting very tall, 2.5 meter, showstopper for people passing by and the bees lo...Read Moreve them. Flowers have a delicate light yellow/greenish color. Perfect for a a more informal garden. I raised them from seed. This wasn't easy, you'll need absolutely fresh seeds en they need stratification (a cold period). I used the wintersowing technique and got 6 seedlings. This year I can harvest my own seeds!
Pictures are from seeds sown two years ago. One of my favourites in my garden!

Grows as border in the Reader Rock garden in Calgary zone 3
Plants are 8 feet tall in mid August and a half dozen or so of them in...Read More a mass planting create a "flowered hedge " 5 feet wide by 20 feet long growing in full sun . Quite a spectacular plant . If I had grounds rather than just a garden I would certainly grow this one .

Yellow Cephalaria is a strong grower thriving in poor soils. Too rich a soil and/or too much water will cause rotting of the flower stems...Read More. Self seeds nicely and not invasive. Leave the dried flower stalks on the plant for winter interest.

added July 17 2009: Since this has started blooming I've noticed it's very attractive to bumble bee's! Theres seems to be one buzzing around it every time I look! Even now I just saw one and it's almost 8pm on a cloudy day!