Scabiosa Japonica

Japanese scabious, now accepted as Lomelosia japonica, is a compact perennial with divided green leaves and rounded pincushion flowers in lavender, mauve or soft pink. Slender stems carry the heads from summer into early autumn, and the enlarged outer florets give every bloom a gently frilled outline. Native to central and southern Japan, it has a neat mountain-meadow character suited to border fronts, gravel gardens and cutting. Pollinating insects visit freely, while regular deadheading keeps fresh buds forming over a long season.