The common name is apt: each flower of Scabiosa atropurpurea looks exactly like a pincushion with its stamens protruding as tiny pins, and the effect on a stem cut and placed in a glass is genuinely elegant. Native to the Mediterranean, this bushy annual grows 2 to 3 feet tall in rich, alkaline, well-drained soil and blooms prolifically from late spring well into fall, sometimes carrying flowers right to the first frost. Butterflies and hummingbirds visit consistently.

Sow seed directly into the ground in spring and expect germination as the soil warms; alternatively, start indoors and transplant seedlings 9 inches apart after frost risk has passed. Deadheading spent flowers extends the season considerably, though leaving some seed heads standing adds a different kind of interest and allows the plant to self-seed where conditions are favorable. Long flower stems may need staking in exposed positions. This annual does not enjoy high humidity or heat south of zone 7 and performs best in cooler summers, making it particularly rewarding in spring and early summer across much of the country.