Scabiosa ' Oxford blue'
Scabiosa atropurpurea
 
Elegant and uniform cut flower.
Tall Florist type scabiosa with 2"large dense blooms , sweet  light scent. One plant will brunch out with dozens of stems. A dramatic addition to any bouquet or garden
Scabiosa atropurpurea is one of the longest-flowering and most glamorous of flowers that you can grow from seed. With 7.5cm (3in) wide blooms and strong stems, ‘Oxford Blue’ is a reselected form that stands out from the other varieties, it boasts the most desirable of deep blue flowers. The blue petals surround a domed, dark centred cushion with contrasting white 'pins', that bob atop the strong stems that grow 36 inches tall 
Scabiosa atropurpurea is a tough, hardy garden performer that grows quickly and is fast to flower. By mid summer, the plants are covered in masses of stunning blue flowers This prodigious bloomer, blooms consistently throughout the growing season, from early summer, right through to late autumn. The flowers have the most delicious sweet perfume reminiscent of honey and marshmallows.

This clump-forming plant produces grey/green basal leaves before the stems produce pleasantly fragrant pincushion flowers when newly opened, As the flowers mature, tiny white stamens emerge adding yet another beautiful detail.
 
Details:
Plant Life Cycle: Annual
Site: Full sun
Days to germinate:
Days to maturity:
Height:36"
Sow:
Plant spacing:
Approx seeds per packet: 50
 
How to grow:
Sowing: Sow in spring March to April or September to October
Sow indoors in early spring three to four weeks before planting outside, alternatively, the seed can also be sown directly where they are to flower in mid to late spring. The plants usually take around 75 to 80 days from seeding to bloom. The seeds can also be sown September to October for early summer flowering next year. 
 
Prepare the ground well and rake to a fine tilth. If sowing more than one annual in the same bed, mark the sowing areas with a ring of sand and label. Sow 3mm (1/8in) deep in rows 30cm (12in) apart. Sow seed sparingly or they will choke out other seedlings.
Water ground regularly, especially in dry periods. The seedlings will appear in rows approx 6 to 8 weeks after planting and can be easily told from nearby weed seedlings. Thin the seedlings out so they are finally 30cm (12in) apart. Carefully replant thinned plants.
Cultivation: All scabious prefer well-drained soil and a sunny position. Only water in an extended drought and do not apply large doses of fertiliser as flowering will be suppressed.Deadhead to prolong flowering and encourage new flower buds. At the season's end, don't be too quick to pull up withering plants. Birds love to snack on their seedheads in autumn, and the seeds that they miss may drop to the ground and reward you the next year by sprouting into a whole new crop.
 
Harvest:
Scabiosa is a cut-and-come-again bloomer, meaning that the sooner you cut the blooms, the quicker new buds will pop up to replace them. The blooms appear so profusely that you'll still have plenty of colour in the garden after you've picked your flowers. Cut flower stems can be harvested, when the flower show colour. Put the stems in warm water immediately.
 
Vase life:
8-10 days