Texas Invasives

Sign up for the iWire to get breaking news, event info and the species spotlight.

Go Back | Printer Friendly Fact Sheet

Federal Noxious Weed

TDA Noxious Weed

TPWD Prohibited Exotic Species

Invasive Plant Atlas of the US

NOTE:

means species is on that list.

Scabiosa atropurpurea

Pincushions

Synonym(s):
Family: Dipsacaceae (Teasel Family)
Duration and Habit: Annual Herb

Photographer:
Source:

Description

The rosette-forming Pincushions may sometimes survive a winter (particularly in mild climates), but it is generally considered to be an annual. Inflorescence are a lavender, pink or whitish many-flowered head on a long peduncle; resembling a pin cushion, leading to its common name. Leaves are opposite, pinnately-dissected, and simple leaves.

Native Lookalikes: Currently no information available here yet, or there are no native Texas species that could be confused with Pincushions.

Ecological Threat: In areas where S. atropurpurea has established it has tended to form monocultures.

Biology & Spread: Deadheading spent flowers may encourage additional bloom, however spent flower heads remain attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. It propagates by seeds which are dispersed by animals, and may self-seed in optimal growing conditions. Plants are generally intolerant of high heat and humidity, and do not grow well in the deep South (south of USDA Zone 7).

History: Scabiosa atropurpurea is an annual that is native to the Mediterranean area, it has been introduced worldwide as a container plant. Still widely used in borders, cottage gardens or cutting gardens.

U.S. Habitat: It favors grasslands, prairies and meadows.

Distribution

U.S. Nativity: Introduced to U.S.

Native Origin: Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Western Asia

U.S. Present: CA, KS, OR, TX, WA

Distribution in Texas: Reports from North Texas

Mapping

Invaders of Texas Map: Scabiosa atropurpurea
EDDMapS: Scabiosa atropurpurea
USDA Plants Texas County Map: Scabiosa atropurpurea

Invaders of Texas Observations

List All Observations of Scabiosa atropurpurea reported by Citizen Scientists

OBS# 2958

OBS# 10846

OBS# 7348

Native Alternatives

Scabiosa stellata , known to naturalize only in California. Stem shaggy-hairy; corollas blue.

Management

Chemical: Spot spray: 360g/L glyphosate as the isopropylamine salt and the mono-ammonium salt

USE PESTICIDES WISELY: ALWAYS READ THE ENTIRE PESTICIDE LABEL CAREFULLY, FOLLOW ALL MIXING AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND WEAR ALL RECOMMENDED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE GEAR AND CLOTHING. CONTACT YOUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL PESTICIDE USE REQUIREMENTS, RESTRICTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS. MENTION OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS ON THIS WEB SITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ENDORSEMENT OF ANY MATERIAL.

Text References

Jepson Flora Project: Jepson Interchange, (http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3420,3424,3425)

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?33231 (07 November 2006)

Online Resources

USDA, NRCS. 2006. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 7 November 2006). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. (http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SCAT)