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Common Name: Pigeon's Scabious

General Information

Scabiosa columbaria is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.75 metres tall.
It has uses.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Europe, including Britain, south and east from the Arctic circle to N. Africa, Siberia and W. Asia.

Habitat

Dry calcareous pastures, banks etc, to 600 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.75 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a neutral or alkaline soil and a sunny position[]. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[].
Grows well in a dry sunny meadow[]. The flowers are a good nectar source for bees and lepidoptera, the plant is also a good food source for the caterpillars of many butterfly species[].
This species name is sometimes treated as the group name for an aggregate of species[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. The seedlings are subject to damping off[] so water with care and make sure to give adequate ventilation. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer.
Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.