Pruning Seasons

• Scabiosa can be encouraged to flower and spread from spring through summer and well into fall. Take advantage of this capability by giving pincushion flowers frequent pruning to stimulate new growth.
  
  

Deadheading

• Spent flowers should be deadheaded, either by hand or with shears, throughout the flowering season. Before you know it, new pincushion blossoms will appear on the plant stems.
  
  

Shearing

• Scabiosa grow to a height and width of about 1 1/2 feet. You can shear the plant to a height of 6 to 8 inches throughout the growing season to encourage spreading. When the plant goes dormant in the winter, you can shear more aggressively and cut away foliage to the ground to promote a wider and bushier growth in the spring.