Description

Devil’s-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis)

This lovely, late flowering grassland perennial wildflower produces purple, ‘pom-pom’ shaped flowers which are a favourite of bumblebees and butterflies. Found in the wild throughout Scotland, in damp to moderately drained grasslands in open and lightly shaded places. Flowers in late summer, early autumn. Up to 1m tall.

Sowing Devil’s-bit Scabious:

Can be sown at any time of year but best in early autumn (September) or in spring. Sow in trays or pots of moist compost and transplant to an open or lightly shaded site that does not dry out in summer, or scatter the seed directly onto a fine-raked seed bed, firming down well. Water well and keep young plants weeded.

Germination can be slow and sporadic so persist with sown areas; make sure your sward does not close over and keep seed trays/pots watered. The species seems to like a warm period at start of germination which can account for slow/sporadic germination at other times of year.