Skip to main content
Jasione montana (Sheep's Bit Scabious)
1 / 3
© Corinna Herr, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC) · iNaturalist
Perennials

Jasione montana

Sheep's Bit Scabious

Campanulaceae
Europe — heathlands, sandy grasslands, and rocky slopes from Britain to the Mediterranean

At a Glance

TypePerennial
HabitClumping
FoliageSemi-evergreen
Height6-12 inches (15-30 cm)
Width8-12 inches (20-30 cm)
Maturity2 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

5 - 8
Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
What's my zone? →
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesDeer ResistantDrought TolerantContainer Friendly
Maintenancevery low

Overview

Jasione montana is sheep's bit scabious — a European wildflower in the Campanulaceae family with perfectly spherical soft blue flower heads, growing 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) tall and 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) wide. Despite the common name 'scabious', this is in the bellflower family (Campanulaceae), not the scabious family. The perfectly spherical flower heads 1 inch (2.5 cm) across on wiry stems look like tiny blue golf balls or pom-poms. The species name 'montana' means 'of mountains', though it also grows on lowland heaths and sandy grasslands. Gray-green narrow slightly hairy basal rosettes. The species requires acidic, sandy, well-drained soil — it declines in alkaline, clay, or wet conditions. May be short-lived (biennial to short-lived perennial) — self-sowing supports persistence. The spherical blue heads draw heavy bee traffic. Deer avoid the foliage.

Native Range

Jasione montana is native to Europe — heathlands, sandy grasslands, and rocky slopes from Britain south to the Mediterranean.

Suggested Uses

Used in sandy/acidic soil gardens, heath gardens, rock gardens, and containers of 1 gallon (3.8 liters) or more. The perfectly spherical blue heads are a conversation piece. A wildflower for close-viewing positions.

How to Identify

Identified by soft blue perfectly spherical (globe-shaped) flower heads on wiry stems above gray-green narrow basal rosettes. The perfectly round flower head shape — not flat-topped like scabious, not spiky — is the diagnostic. Despite the common name, this is in the bellflower family, not the scabious family.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'
Width/Spread8" - 1'

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

blue

Foliage Colors

gray green

Fall Foliage Colors

semi evergreen

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Summer
Flowering in June and July, approximately 4 weeks. Soft blue spherical heads.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Soft blue, in perfectly spherical pincushion-like heads

Foliage Description

Gray-green, narrow, slightly hairy, forming a basal rosette

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
sandrocky
Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant in full sun. Acidic, sandy, sharply drained soil. Heavy fertilising is avoided. Not suited to alkaline or clay soil. May be short-lived — self-sowing maintains the planting.

Pruning

Spent flowers are deadheaded for continued bloom. Some seed heads stay in place for self-sowing persistence.

Maintenance Level

very low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 1 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic