Cream pincushions (Scabiosa ochroleuca, Sp. Pl.: 101 (1753))

Family: Caprifoliaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 101 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Scabiosa

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe to Medit. and Mongolia

Description

The plant commonly known as Cream Pincushions goes by the scientific name Scabiosa ochroleuca. It is a distinctive and charming member of the Caprifoliaceae family.

First described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 in Species Plantarum (page 101), Cream Pincushions have since gained recognition for their unique beauty and adaptability. This species is native to a broad range, stretching from Europe and the Mediterranean all the way to Mongolia. These regions provide the varied climates and terrains suitable for the plant’s growth, allowing it to flourish in different conditions.

Cream Pincushions are particularly noted for their delicate, creamy-yellow flowers, which resemble the shape of a pincushion, lending the plant its common name. The flower heads are composed of many small florets arranged in a dome-like cluster, which is both attractive to pollinators and aesthetically pleasing in gardens.

In horticulture, Scabiosa ochroleuca is valued for its ornamental attributes and its ability to enhance garden biodiversity by attracting beneficial insects. Gardeners appreciate it not only for its visual appeal but also for its resilience and ease of care, making it a popular choice in both naturalistic and more structured garden settings.

Whether adorning a wildflower meadow or a carefully curated garden bed, Cream Pincushions offer a simple yet elegant charm that embodies the beauty of natural landscapes. The plant’s broad geographical range and adaptable nature underscore its significance and enduring allure in the plant world.

Common Names

Eng: cream pincushions
Deu: gelbe skabiose
Dan: gul skabiose
Fra: scabieuse jaune pâle, scabieuse jaune, scabieuse vert-jaunâtre
Swe: gulvädd
Est: kollane tähtepea
En: Cream pincushions, Yellow Scabious, Cream Pincushion-flower
Be: Скабіёза жоўтая
Bg: Жълтеникава самогризка
Zh: 黄盆花
Cs: Hlaváč žlutavý
Da: Gul Skabiose
Et: Kollane tähtepea
Fi: Keltatörmäkukka
Fr: Scabieuse jaune, Scabieuse jaune pâle, Scabieuse vert-jaunâtre
De: Gelbe Skabiose
Hu: Vajszínű ördögszem
It: Vedovina gialla
Pl: Driakiew żółta
Sk: Hlaváč žltkastý
Sv: Gulvädd

Synonyms

• Scabiosa flavescens (Griseb. & Schenk)
• Scabiosa rhodopea ((Velen.) Velen.)
• Scabiosa heterophyllos (S.G.Gmel.)
• Scabiosa holophylla (Bordz.)
• Pentena ochroleuca (Raf.)
• Scabiosa georgica (Sulak.)
• Scabiosa lutea (G.Don)
• Scabiosa scopolii (Hornem.)
• Scabiosa ochroleuca subsp. danubialis (Velen.)
• Asterocephalus scopolii (Rchb.)
• Scabiosa djurdjurae (Chabert)
• Asterocephalus luteus ((G.Don) Paxton)
• Columbaria ochroleuca (J.Presl & C.Presl)
• Scabiosa columbaria subsp. ochroleuca ((L.) Čelak.)
• Scabiosa ochroleuca subsp. rhodopea (Velen.)
• Scabiosa ochroleuca f. baumgarteniana (Soó)
• Asterocephalus webbianus (Spreng.)
• Scabiosa lutescens (Gilib.)
• Asterocephalus montanus (Schur)
• Scabiosa djurdjurae var. fulva (Chabert)
• Asterocephalus bipinnatus (Jord. & Fourr.)
• Asterocephalus flavescens (Schur)
• Scabiosa columbaria var. ochroleuca ((L.) Wimm. & Grab.)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Altay (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Germany (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Poland (native)
• Romania (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Chita (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jan 13, 2022 by Roy Forget (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 27, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 27, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 19, 2019 by Karel Čadek (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 22, 2019 by F. P. (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Nov 12, 2022 by Laszlo Tosoki (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2021 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 12, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 12, 2021 by Ornitho Galum (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 27, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Dec 9, 2019 by Jiří Vilím (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2021 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 12, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 9, 2019 by Jiří Vilím (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 27, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Aug 1, 2021 by Nagy Viktor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2021 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 7, 2016 by Kasia Sojka (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 21, 2022 by Bailey C (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 22, 2016 by Thomas Melan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 12, 2022 by Alexandra Suiaga (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2021 by Jan Löser (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Sep 5, 2020 by Marc Malkwitz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 22, 2020 by Stoane (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 15, 2022 by Blue Bottle (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2022 by Krampl Tomáš (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 25, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:320032-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2888806)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Scabiosa ochroleuca L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth