Description
Knautia arvensis
Field Scabious is a wildflower perennial for drier meadows, hedgerows and roadsides. Greyish leaves form an untidy rosette above which the lilac-blue flowers are held on metre tall stems. The flowers are usually covered with bees and butterflies especially the Common Blue butterfly. Goldfinches eat the seeds before they have fully ripened. Medically this plant was used against skin ulcers, sores and to clear freckles. Also known as Pincushion, Blue Bonnets or Lady’s Pincushion.
Sow in autumn or spring. Scabious seed benefits from a pre-chill period of 8 to 12 weeks mixed with damp sand and in a fridge. This will give better germination but is not absolutely necessary.
Shropshire seed
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