Scabiosa columbaria tends to prefer basic soils and so is very common on the limestone of the Great Orme where both blue and less common pink forms can be found. It is also quite hardy so will continue to flower into the early winter months and can be found in flower in early March. It is small by the standards of Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis) but can vary from very dwarf plants on exposed cliffs to those with 20 cm stems.

Scabiosa columbaria is very common in England scattered in Wales and only present in small quantities in south eastern Scotland. It is hardly known from ireland and absent from much of mid and northern Scotland.

Scabiosa columbaria Small Scabious Great Orme, North Wales 1st June 2008 Previous   Next

Scabiosa columbaria Small Scabious

LHS: Great Orme, North Wales 1st June 2008 RHS: Great Orme 18th July 2002

Added on February 3rd 2005, updated 30th January 2012