Succisa pratensis
devil's bit scabious
- 9cm pot
- £14.99
- In stock (delivery within 2-3 working days)
- 3 × 9cm pots
- £34.99 £11.66 each
- In stock (delivery within 2-3 working days)
Delivery options
- Standard £5.99
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: June to October
- Hardiness: fully hardy
A native of moist meadows and woodland edges, this is a wonderful plant for naturalised planting schemes. In midsummer, slender upright stems are topped with rounded clusters of mauve or deep purple flowerheads. These are produced freely over a long period, making it great value for money, and the bees and butterflies will flock to it. It will be happiest in a moist soil that does not dry out in summer, and it will self-seed freely, but pink or white flowered plants may result.
Plant devil's bit scabious in a sunny or lightly shaded spot with moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil, adding garden compost at planting to help it establish. Water regularly through the first season and keep it well-watered in summer, as dry spells can reduce flowering.
Leave the faded flower heads in place if you want it to self-seed and spread naturally, but remove any damaged or untidy growth in late winter. Mulch in spring to hold moisture and support fresh growth, and avoid cutting back hard in autumn as the plant benefits from keeping some structure over winter.
Leave the faded flower heads in place if you want it to self-seed and spread naturally, but remove any damaged or untidy growth in late winter. Mulch in spring to hold moisture and support fresh growth, and avoid cutting back hard in autumn as the plant benefits from keeping some structure over winter.