Small Scabious
Scabiosa columbaria
Small Scabious is a perennial for edging, mid-border, suited to full sun and loam, sandy soil or chalk, flowering Jul, Aug, Sep.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 45 cm |
| Spread | 40 cm |
| Aspect | full sun |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Hardiness | USDA 5a-9a, RHS H7 |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | Yes |
Where to use it in a border
At around 45 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 40 cm of room to spread, roughly 2 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 5a to 9a and rated H7 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of full sun, sandy soil, chalk soil, pollinator-friendly plants, pet-safe plants.
Border Builder uses Small Scabious's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Bird's-foot Trefoilto edge in front
- Blue Flag Iristo flower when it does not
- Blue Mistflowerto edge in front
- Blue-Eyed Grassto edge in front
- California Poppyto edge in front
- Canada Anemoneto edge in front