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Knautia arvensis

field scabious

Caprifoliaceae Europe and western Asia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Knautia arvensis is a clump-forming perennial in the honeysuckle family, growing 1.5 to 3 feet (45-90 cm) tall from a basal rosette of hairy, lance-shaped leaves. The lower leaves are often entire while the upper stem leaves are deeply pinnately cut, and the whole plant is roughly hairy. Flat, domed flower heads 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) across appear from summer into early autumn, each a cluster of small lilac to blue-violet four-lobed florets with the outer ones enlarged, set on long, branching, wiry stems. The pincushion heads draw bees, butterflies, and hoverflies over a long season. The plant has a thick taproot, tolerates poor and dry soils, and self-sows on grassland, roadsides, and meadows across its range. After flowering it produces small dry nutlets, and the foliage dies back to the rosette in winter. In rich soil the wiry stems can flop and the plant may seed about more than wanted.

Native Range

Native to Europe and western Asia, from Britain and Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean and east to the Caucasus and Siberia. It grows in dry grassland, hay meadows, hedge banks, and roadsides, and has naturalized in parts of North America.

Suggested Uses

Used in wildflower meadows, prairie-style plantings, and informal borders for its long bloom and pollinator value, spaced 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart. It combines with grasses and other meadow perennials. The flowers are cut for informal arrangements.

How to Identify

Recognized by domed, lilac-blue pincushion flower heads 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) across on long, branching, hairy stems above a rosette of rough leaves. The four-lobed florets and enlarged outer florets distinguish it from the true scabious of the genus Scabiosa spp., which has five-lobed florets. The deeply cut upper stem leaves contrast with the often-entire lower leaves.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1'6" - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

purple

blue

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~14 weeks

Summer Fall

Lilac-blue heads open from June to September, with a long peak in midsummer. Individual heads last one to two weeks and the plant reblooms over several months. Dry nutlets ripen and drop from late summer onward.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Lilac to blue-violet

Foliage Description

Green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-12 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 Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam chalk sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years to flowering size

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to light shade on well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil, including chalky and poor ground. It tolerates drought once established because of its deep taproot and needs no feeding on average soil. Plants are hardy to about -30F (-34C) in zones 4-8 and die back to the rosette each winter. Rich, moist soil produces lush growth that flops and shortens the plant life. The taproot resents disturbance, so plants are more easily raised from seed or moved while young. Removing spent heads prolongs flowering and reduces self-seeding.

Pruning

Deadheading spent flower heads through summer extends the blooming season and limits self-sown seedlings. Stems can be cut back near ground level in late autumn once growth dies down. Division is rarely successful because of the taproot, so renewal is usually from seed.