Plant in sun or part shade with moderate to very little irrigation. Cold hardy to 20° F. A great little easy care mounding shrub with dark green almost plastic looking foliage. The flowers are a nectar source for butterflies.

This plant comes from the hot mediterranean climate of northeaster Algeria into Tunisia in northern Africa. The name for the genus comes from the Latin word 'scabiosus' that means "mangy", "rough" or "itchy" in reference to the Scabiosa herb's traditional use to treat scabies, an illness that causes a severe itching sensation. The specific epithet means "mealy" or "powdery" but we are not sure how this name applies to this species. We first received this great plant from UCSB biology greenhouse manager John Bleck in 1988 and have been growing it ever since. 

This information about Scabiosa farinosa displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.