Scabiosa austroafricana, commonly known as African Scabious or Pincushion, is a perennial herb native to the Eastern Cape of South Africa, where it thrives in a variety of habitats including grasslands, fynbos, and open woodlands. It typically grows at a moderate rate to a height and width of 1-1.5 feet (0.3-0.5 meters). This plant is characterized by its deeply lobed leaves and spherical flower heads that consist of tiny, tubular flowers. The blooms, which are most commonly purple or blue, are showy and appear mainly in the summer, attracting a variety of pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

The African Scabious is valued for its ornamental flowers and is used in garden borders, rock gardens, and as a cut flower due to its long vase life. It is relatively easy to maintain, requiring minimal care once established. It prefers full sun to part shade and thrives in well-drained loam or sandy soils. While it tolerates medium water, it is somewhat drought-resistant once established. Gardeners should be aware that in some conditions, it can self-seed and spread, which might require management to prevent unwanted naturalization.CC BY-SA 4.0