Knautia arvensis

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field scabious

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field scabious RHS 2002
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Other common names

bachelor's buttons, black soap, blue buttons, blue caps, clodweed, Egyptian rose, gypsies' rose, gypsy rose, lady's cushion, purple buttons, scabridge, clafrllys y maes

Synonyms

Scabiosa arvensis
Scabiosa montana Mill.

Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial
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A clump-forming, deep-rooted perennial about 1.5m tall, with lax, softly bristly stems bearing simple or pinnately lobed, hairy green leaves, and lilac-blue flowerheads to 4cm across in summer and autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
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
Knautia can be annuals or perennials, and may have simple or pinnately lobed leaves and scabious-like flower-heads
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Europe, Temperate Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a moderately fertile, well-drained, preferably alkaline soil in full sun. Attractive to bees

Propagation

Propagate by seed in pots in a cold frame in spring or propagate by basal cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildflower meadow

Pruning

Old flower stems can be cut down after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free