Small Scabious, Scabiosa columbaria, 3 plants in 7 cm square pots
Small Scabious (Scabiosa columbaria) as the name suggests is smaller and slimmer than Field Scabious and Devil's-bit Scabious, the flower stem arising from a basal rosette and growing to 70 cm and its also less hairy. It has a large pale blue flower head which could be confused with that of Field Scabious, but the individual flowers that make up the flower head have five not four petal-lobes.
It flowers from around June to October. It is a perennial which can survive long term on relatively infertile and dry calcareous soils, its long tap roots enabling it to obtain water unavailable to many other plants and keep growing in periods of low rainfall.
Wiildlife value
It is a caterpillar foodplant of the Marsh Fritillary butterfly which consumes its leaves, while the flowers are very popular with butterflies, bees and hoverflies. Its lengthy flowering period from early summer until well into autumn make it especially useful for later broods of butterflies and other pollinators active later in the season.
Cultivating Small Scabious
As it likes the sun, warmth and well drained soils, it is a perfect plant for planters and gravel gardens. It thrives in low-nutrient neutral or slightly alkaline soils. Its flowering period can be extended by dead heading before the flowers produce seeds, although it's good to keep some seeds for sowing in the autumn or spring.
Ladyburn Plant Nursery has been registered, by the Scottish Government, as a Professional Operator who is authorised to issue plant passports. (These are now required for internet sales of all plants including native plants sold within the UK, not just those for those shipped abroad, as previously). Registration Number GB-S 03473.
Please note that our plants are sold purely for their biodiversity, educational and aesthetic value and should not be consumed unless you are absolutely certain of their safety.
Please note also that our nursery is located at Cupar, our St Andrews address being for correspondence only.