Scabiosa columbaria

Scabiosa columbaria, called the small scabious or dwarf pincushion flower, is a widespread species of flowering plant in the genus Scabiosa, native to Europe, Africa, and western Asia, from Sweden to Angola. In the garden it is a short-lived deciduous perennial. In the wild in Europe it prefers to grow in calcareous grasslands. Growing to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall by 0.5 m (1.6 ft), it has simple branched grey-green leaves, and pale lavender or blue multi-petalled flowers from summer to autumn.

Description

A small herb. It grows 60 cm high and spreads 40 cm wide. It has a woody rootstock. The leaves are grey-green. The leaves at the base are woolly. They can have smooth edges or be deeply lobed. The upper leaves are divided into leaflets along the stalk. These are also often further divided. The flowers are in heads and are purple-blue. They are 40 mm wide. The fruit is dry. It has one seed.

Edible Uses

Leaves are edible; no further preparation details are recorded.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a subtropical plant. It grows between 5-3,475 m above sea level in South Africa. In Zimbabwe it grows between 800-2,000 m above sea level. It needs well-drained soil. It grows on chalk grasslands in Europe. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 6-10.

Where It Grows

Africa, Andorra, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Britain, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Italy, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mediterranean, Mozambique, North Africa, Sicily, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tasmania, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

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.

Propagation

Sow seed in a cold frame in spring. Seedlings are prone to damping off, so water carefully and ensure good ventilation. Prick out into individual pots once large enough to handle and plant into permanent positions in summer. Divide in spring; larger divisions can go directly into permanent positions. Smaller divisions do best potted up and grown on in a lightly shaded cold frame until well established, then planted out in summer.

Other Uses

None known

Notes

There are about 75-80 Scabiosa species. Also put in the family Dipsacaceae.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Pigeon's scabious, Mamokhale, Navadni grintavec, Runhema

References (14)

• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1320
• Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 287
• http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/plants
• Licata, M., et al, 2016, A survey of wild plant species for food use in Sicily (Italy) – results of a 3-year study in four Regional Parks. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 12:12
• Marker & Sheape,

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