Cephalaria radiata Tweet

Genus: Cephalaria

Common Name: Giant Scabious

Latin Name: Cephalaria radiata

Variety: radiata

Family Name: Dipsacaceae

Plant Description:

Cephalaria radiata has simple leaves. The leaves are arranged alternately along the stems. They are pinnatified with toothed margins leaves. It sends up wiry self supporting stems carrying large soft pale creamy white scabious like flowers.
The plant has a wild and somewhat lanky appearance to it because the flower stems often go off in different directions rather than all standing to attention. It is a large plant and needs plenty of room but it is well worth trying to squeeze one in at the back of a border if your garden is on the small size.
Try naturalising it in grass if you have a wilder part to your garden.
Native plant of Romania

Latin Name Explanation:

Cephalaria comes from the Greek kephale meaning head and refers to the flowers which are in round heads.

Preferred Aspect: Sun (partial shade)

Height: 1.2-1.8m

Spread: 1m

Form: Herbaceous

Hardiness: Fully Frost Hardy - withstand temperature down to -15C

Grown Height: 1.2-1.8m

Grown Spread: 1m

Leaf Type: Herbaceous

Likes Soil Type:

Any reasonably fertile soil
Chalky Loam
Clay Loam
Loam
Sandy Loam
Silty

Does not thrive in Soil Type:

Hardiness: Fully Frost Hardy - withstand temperature down to -15C

Preferred Aspect: Sun (partial shade)

Primary Flower Colour: Creamy White

Primary Foliage Colour: Green Dark

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Period of Interest

Planting Period

Pruning Period

Element of Interest:

Attracts Butterflies
Flower
Food Plant for Fauna
Repeat Flowering
Texture (Touch)


Likes PH: Slightly Acid - Neutral - Slightly Alkaline

Does not thrive in PH:

Moisture Level: Moist well drained soil

Growth Rate: Grows and dies back in the same year (herbaceous)

After Care Required: Dead Head Flowers to Encourage Repeat Flowering


Work Involved: Easy to Grow

Fragrance: Not Scented

Suitable for Small Garden:

Does it need staking?:

Plant for RHS Identification Course:

Pest and Diseases
If you Subscribe you are able to read about and identify Pests and Diseases that effect your plants. In order to identify "Pest and Diseases" you will be required to Register.

It is Free to Register.

When you Register you able to test the site Free for 4 days. This will enable you to try out the site and see if it suits your requirements.
If you then decide to continue you can Subscribe for only £14.95 pa via PayPal



You will be able to subscribe securely using PayPal. If you want plants added that are not on our database please feel free to contact neil@complete-gardens.co.uk
Click here to register with the option to subscribe.

In order to keep a record of your plants and to know when and how to prune them you will be required to register.
Registering is easy. Just click on

Specific Planting:

Water well before planting.
Loosen the soil with a fork. Make a hole and loosen the soil in the bottom of the hole.
Place the plant so that when it is sat in the hole the compost level is the same as the surrounding soil.
Fill in around the plant with friable soil. Firm the soil around the roots to make good contact with the roots and to secure the plant.
Water after planting.

Specific Care:

This is not a difficult plant to grow given a moderately fertile soil.
Cephalaria radiata prefers a sunny to half shady site. It grows best in sandy, loamy soil that is moist.

Specific Feeding:

An annual dressing of general fertiliser in spring will help keep this plant in good health.

Propagation

From Seed

Cephalaria gigantea Cephalaria leucantha

Plants I have.
If you subscribe you are able to make a visual and printable list of 'Plants I Have'. You simply click on 'My Plant List' Add to 'Plants I have' and your plants are listed alphabetically with an image, plus Latin & Common name, Genus, Notes, Action – You can then view the plant info plus Delete plant from list to keep your plants lists up to date.

Plants I want.
You are able to make a visual printable list of 'Plants I Want' You simply click on 'My Plant List' Add plant to 'Plant I want'. Your plants are listed alphabetically with images, Latin & common name, Genus, Notes, Action – show plant info and delete plant from list OR move to Plants I Have

Plants to prune.
You can choose any month to see which of your plants need pruning and be advised what to do. Simply click on the plant image to view the illustrated pruning advice.
This screen show plants I have that need pruning in February


To keep a record of your plant lists and notes there is an annual subscription charge of only £14.95. Payment can be made securely using PayPal.
Click here to register with the option to subscribe.

List of your plants with Notes.
If you Subscribe you are able to add your personal notes to plants. You simply click "Add Notes" and type in the text box. You can print your notes with an image of the plant. You can view and print the list of your plants with notes.
In order to keep a record of your "Notes" you will be required to Register.

It is Free to Register.


When you Register you able to test the site Free for 4 days. This will enable you to try out the site and see if it suits your requirements.
If you then decide to continue you can Subscribe for only £14.95 pa via PayPal


Add Notes
You can add your personal notes to plants. You can print your notes with an image of the plant.

You will be able to subscribe securely using PayPal. If you want plants added that are not on our database please feel free to contact neil@complete-gardens.co.uk
Click here to register with the option to subscribe.