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Knautia arvensis

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Characteristics

Plant type

Herbaceous Perennial

Habit

Clump-forming

Origin

Native to the UK

Toxicity

Resilience

Hardiness

old H4 (hardy)

Colour

Flower

Blue and Pale Purple in Autumn and Summer

Foliage

Green in Autumn, Spring and Summer

Size

Ultimate height

1-1.5 metres

Ultimate spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2-5 years

Preferred common name

field scabious

Family

Caprifoliaceae

Knautia can be annuals or perennials, and may have simple or pinnately lobed leaves and scabious-like flower-heads

K. arvensis is a clump-forming perennial with lax stems bearing simple or pinnately lobed leaves and lilac-blue flowerheads to 4cm across in summer and autumn

Other common names

bachelor's buttons
black soap
blue buttons
blue caps
clodweed
Egyptian rose
gypsies' rose
gypsy rose
lady's cushion
purple buttons
scabridge

Synonym(s)

Scabiosa montana Mill.

Suppliers

Suppliers listed in RHS Plant Finder

How to grow

Sunlight

Full sun

Aspect

South-facing, North-facing, West-facing or East-facing

Exposed or Sheltered

Cultivation

Grow in a moderately fertile, well-drained, preferably alkaline soil in full sun. Attractive to bees

Soil

Well-drained

Alkaline or Neutral

Loam, Chalk or Sand

Propagation

Propagate by seed in pots in a cold frame in spring or propagate by basal cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage/Informal Garden, Low Maintenance, Wildflower meadow or Wildlife Gardens

How to care

Pruning

Old flower stems can be cut down after flowering

Pests

May be attacked by aphids

Diseases

Generally disease free

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