These lovely flowers are very easy to grow and are a classic English garden 'cottage' plant.


Knautia arvensis or Field Scabious is a native English plant with bluish lilac flowers.

Scabiosa columbaria – also a hardy perennial - is sometimes called Pigeon's Scabious has paler lilac flowers.

Nowadays you can get different varieties that come in a range of colours from blue, dark purple, cherry, salmon, pink, lavender and white.
Even these cultivated varieities are much loved by butterflies and insects especially bees.

How to grow

Hardy perennial Scabious - have traditional blue or lavender blue flowers on tall stems – approx 18 -24 inches. Zones 3-7.

When to plant outdoors : March - May

How to grow outdoors:
Sow 0.5in (1.5cm) deep in flowering position. Keep moist. Thin seedlings to 9in (23cm) apart.

If you do several sowings you will get a continuous display, throughout the summer.

Scabious like a sunny spot with well drained soil and will grow quite happily in a dry garden. They grow well in pots and containers so you can have some in just a small space.

They flower from May – September. Remove deadheads to prolong flowering.

One good thing about Scabious is that they do not seem to attract slugs and snails or deer.

They are excellent used as cut flowers as they last well in water, and the flowers can also can be dried.

What to plant with Scabious.

Scabious look good when planted beside Sedums - try Neon or Autumn Joy or
Masterwort – astrantia or
Sweet rocket

If you have the space in your garden

If you have room there is a Scabious that is well suited to the informal cottage garden that grows to 82 inches – 210cms! The name is Scabious - Cephalaria gigantean.

It is still easy to grow though prefers a bit more moisture around its roots and does best in dappled shade. You must be prepared to give it some support or let it grow through shrubs. It has primrose yellow flowers and is well worth the effort if you have the space in your garden.

Please note that should you come across Devil's bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis) this is a much harder plant to grow as it prefers boggy soil and not in my opinion suitable for a cottage garden.