Cephalaria gigantea - THE best plant for pollinators

Cephalaria gigantea, the giant scabious, has been in the garden for at least a decade now.  Gently seeding around it has become a major feature of the mid-June garden.  Often six feet tall, its numerous flower heads start off with wonderful geometrically patterned buds and the tall wiry stems are rigid and usually self supporting.

Beauty and practicality are one thing but another valuable trait we’ve noticed is the appeal to pollinators.  We’d even go so far as saying it’s THE best plant for pollinators in the garden - certainly in June.  Given a well planted garden with many of the highly recommended choices for bees and insects  - lavender, toadflax, mallow, verbena etc - Cephalaria always seems to be smothered in appreciative visitors while the other options appear to take second place on the garden menu.

Buy it as a plant or beg for some seeds from a neighbour.  They’re a wonderful addition to the garden, both aesthetically and ecologically.  We’d never be without them.