I’ve always been enamored with scabiosa flowers. They are stunningly beautiful and easy to grow, with a range of colors that perfectly complement my garden aesthetic—from nearly black burgundy to pure white and every hue in between. The blue variety, in particular, is swoon-worthy and hard to find among other flower species. I've had good luck growing these flowers from seeds, but some of my favorite colors are often sold out in seed shops due to high demand. Instead of relying on seed companies for your favorite colors for bouquets or crafts, you can be self-sufficient and save your own seed.

This year, I decided to tackle this issue head-on and harvest seeds from my own scabiosa plants. Not only will this save me money and ensure I always have my favorite varieties, but it also opens the door to experiment with breeding certain colors and characteristics tailored to my visual preferences and garden conditions.

In this article, I’ll share my personal journey with scabiosa (aka pincushion flower) seed saving, provide practical tips for doing it yourself, and highlight the environmental benefits of seed saving. I’ll also discuss techniques to boost biodiversity in your seed bank so you can gain confidence in saving seeds, whether you’re a novice or an experienced gardener.

What to Know Before Saving Scabiosa Seeds

Overview of Scabiosa Plant Characteristics:

Pincushion flower blooms transform into oblong-shaped seed heads, which are often covered with little 'hairs' all over the outer surface.

It’s easy to mistake these hairs for the seeds, but the actual seeds need to be broken off from the main head.

They resemble shuttlecocks from badminton. If you’ve ever seen papermoon scabiosa in its dried form, you’ll recognize the seeds as a smaller version of that. The key difference is that you must break apart the seed head to get to them.

Best Time and Conditions for Harvesting Seeds:

In my garden, scabiosa tends to go to seed in August within my greenhouse, and in late August to early September in my outdoor spaces. Seed pods continue to form until the first killing frost. It’s best to time your seed harvest during a stretch of dry weather—avoid rain or overhead watering for at least 48 hours. Sunny conditions are ideal. Wet seeds can become moldy, which can make them useless in storage.

Understand if they are invasive in your area:

• California + Texas: Scabiosa astropurpurea
• British Columbia: Knautia arvensis

While Scabiosa astropurpurea isn’t banned anywhere in North America, it is listed as invasive in Texas. Additionally, California lists it as having a high potential to be invasive and so it is on the watch list. Field scabious (Knautia arvensis) is listed as invasive in British Columbia.

Essential Tools and Materials Needed:

• scissors: so you can clip off seed heads
• paper envelopes: for storing seeds
• pen: for labeling

To collect seeds, I like to have a pair of scissors to clip off seed heads and a paper envelope. Label the envelope with the plant name and characteristics, as well as where it was grown.

When I get inside, I sort out the seeds and take a few from each seed head and place those in the envelope. The other seed heads I usually will plant just to see if they come up in the spring.

Step-by-Step Guide to Saving Scabiosa Seeds:

1. Clip Seed Heads: Use scissors to clip off the seed heads from the plants. Ensure they are completely dry.

2. Sort Seeds: Once inside, carefully break apart the seed heads and sort out the seeds.

3. Store Seeds: Place the sorted seeds into labeled paper envelopes. Make sure to include details like the plant name, color, and any particular characteristics

Techniques to Dry, Clean, and Store Seeds:

The seeds should be completely dry before storage. I don't worry about cleaning the seeds much because they're large, and a bit of chaff isn't cumbersome when sowing. I keep the seed envelopes in a drawer where they will stay dry, dark, and cool. This ensures the seeds remain viable until planting time.

Best Practices When Collecting Scabiosa Seed

• Mark Your Favorites in Advance: It's easier to identify standout plants while they are still in bloom. Once they've gone to seed, it can be a challenge to distinguish between plants.
• Ensure Seed Pods are Completely Dry: The seed pods should feel crispy and be a brown color. They should crumble easily to reveal the seeds inside. Avoid harvesting seeds within 48 hours of rainfall or overhead watering.
• Encourage Plant Diversity: Harvest seed heads from at least a dozen different plants within the same species. This helps maintain genetic diversity, so you can avoid inbreeding issues.
• Detailed Labeling: Note the species name, color, characteristics selected for, and growing conditions (e.g., greenhouse, sunny spot). This information can be invaluable for future planting decisions.

According to a study done on Scabiosa columbaria in the Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, it’s essential to gather seeds not only from various plants but also different locations if possible. this is why seed swaps with neighbors are vital for supporting a healthy gene pool in your saved seed.

Essentially, the more variety in your seeds, the less likely you’ll have outbreeding depression, which reduces the quality of the plants you’ll grow. The study found that the more biodiverse the seedbank was for Scabiosa columbaria, the more resilient the next generation of plants where.

Ensure Seed Quality and Viability: What Works for Me

Tips to Select the Best Seeds:

• Larger seeds tend to be more viable, so look for the biggest seeds from each pod

Methods I Use to Test Seed Viability:

• To test if seeds are viable before storage, simply plant a six-cell tray with one seed per cell. Water enough to keep the soil moist and place them under a grow light inside.
• Scabiosa species usually don't need to be cold stratified, so if they are viable, they should germinate.
• If half of the seeds germinate, then in the spring sow two seeds per cell or per location if direct sowing.
• Make a note of the germination rate on your seeds’ envelope.

Ideal Storage Conditions and Personal Tips:

• I prefer to use paper envelopes over plastic baggies because plastic can build up condensation and ruin the seeds.
• I keep the envelopes in a dark, dry, and cool drawer to maintain the seeds' viability.

Environmental Benefits of Saving Seeds:

Saving seeds not only means you'll spend less money but also ensures access to rare or in-demand varieties. Since I started saving seeds, I've noticed a remarkable increase in the robustness of my plants, which I attribute to selecting seeds from only the healthiest specimens in my own garden - totally adapted to my unique growing conditions. It contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing the reliance on commercial seed production and promoting biodiversity. This is especially relevant for non-organic seed producers. Organic methods, like avoiding chemical pesticides and fertilizers, helps maintain a healthy garden ecosystem.

Seed Saving Promotes Biodiversity:

Gardeners can help preserve unique plant varieties and promote genetic diversity when they save and exchange seeds. This is especially important for rare or heirloom varieties that might not be commercially available.

Common Challenges & How I Avoid Them

Common issues include mold, pests, and improper storage conditions. To prevent these, make sure seed heads are fully dry before storage and store them in a dry, cool, and dark place.

Troubleshooting Tips and Solutions:

If you encounter mold or pests, discard affected seeds and ensure better drying and storage conditions for the next batch. Regularly check stored seeds for any signs of damage.

Prevent Mold, Pests, and Other Problems:

Ensure seeds are completely dry before storage, use paper envelopes to prevent condensation, and store them in a cool, dark place. Regularly inspect stored seeds and remove any that show signs of damage.

Disappearing Seedheads

A study looking at the Scabiosa columbaria population in Holland found that seeds can be eaten right off the plant. This is great for supporting a robust insect and animal population, but not great for saving seeds. When you plant your store-bought seeds or plants, try to spread them out in different locations in your garden to prevent a total loss.

Poor Germination

The study referenced above also noted that seeds from crowded scabiosa plants were less viable. This leads to poor germination rates down the line. Keep your plantings free from weeds and ensure that plants are spread at least 6 inches apart to avoid nutrient and light competition.

Encouragement and Final Tips

Saving scabiosa seeds is a rewarding process that ensures access to your favorite varieties and contributes to environmental sustainability.

Don’t be intimidated by the process! Start small, learn from your experiences, and gradually build your seed-saving skills. The benefits are worth the effort, and you'll be contributing to a more sustainable gardening practice.

Final Tips and Resources for Further Learning:

• Start with a few plants and gradually expand your seed-saving efforts.
• Join gardening communities and forums to exchange seeds and tips.
• Refer to books and websites dedicated to seed saving for more in-depth knowledge.

Works Cited:

Ellstrand, N. C., & Elam, D. R. (1993). Population Genetic Consequences of Small Population Size: Implications for Plant Conservation. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 24, 217–242. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2097178

Verkaar, H. J., Schenkeveld, A. J., & Huurnink, C. L. (1986). The Fate of Scabiosa columbaria (Dipsacaceae) Seeds in a Chalk Grassland. Oikos, 46(2), 159–162. https://doi.org/10.2307/3565462

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