Succisa pratensis

RHS Plant Profile

devil's bit scabious

Other common names

blue ball, blue bonnets, blue kiss, blue scabious, curl daddy, fore-bit, fore-bitten-more, ofbit, ofbitten, blue buttons, blue caps

Synonyms

Scabiosa succisa

Herbaceous Perennial

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A clump-forming, spreading perennial to 60cm tall, with a basal rosette of slender, oval, green leaves, the branched stems bearing solitary light purple, pincushion-like flowerheads 2cm across, in summer and autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand, Chalk

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand Chalk

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral or Alkaline

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Caprifoliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Succisa are rhizomatous herbaceous perennials with simple, obovate leaves and long-stalked, solitary pale violet, pincushion-like flowerheads in late summer and autumn
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Europe Africa Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows in any moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade, ideal for naturally peaty soil that is moist during spring and summer

Propagation

Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings (basal)

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Wildflower meadow

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to damage by slugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free