Field Scabious
Knautia arvensis
Full description
The Field Scabious produces large pale lilac/mauve flowers on the end of a tall stem between July and September. It can be found in neutral and alkaline soils in sands and clays as well as limestone.
The Field Scabious has a valuable role as a tall, attractive summer flower of banks, roadside verges and meadows. Its size enables Field Scabious to sustain itself in tall quite fertile grasslands. It can persist in unmanaged grasslands but more usually requires an autumn and possibly an additional spring cut.
The flowers are an extremely important nectar source for both butterflies and bees. It is the preferred nectar source for Small Skipper, Essex Skipper and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.
