Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Succisa pratensis (Devil's bit scabious)
Comment on a listing
Plant supplier links
- Login to upload a photo
1 hour care
per year
per year
0.6m
Max height
Max height
0.6m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Succisa pratensis
Other names
Devil's bit scabious, Scabiosa succisa, Blue ball, Blue bonnets, Blue buttons, Blue caps, Blue kiss, Blue scabious, Curl daddy, Fore-bit, Fore-bitten-more, Ofbit, Ofbitten, Blauwe knoop
Genus
Succisa Succisa
Species
S. pratensis - S. pratensis is a rosette-forming, rhizomatous, deciduous perennial with ovate to elliptic, grey-green leaves and branched stems bearing pincushion-like, violet flower heads from midsummer into autumn.
Succisa pratensis is: Deciduous
Habit
Rosette
Flower
Violet in Summer; Violet in Autumn
Foliage
Grey-green in Spring
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Slugs Slugs
Diseases
Generally disease free. Resistant to cucumber mosaic virus.
General care
Pruning
Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering.
Propagation
Sow seeds in a cold frame in spring.
Propagation methods
Division, Basal cuttings, Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Succisa pratensis (Devil's bit scabious) will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance, Wildflower, Wildlife
Cultivation
Grow in poor to moderately fertile, peaty, moist soil in full sun or partial shade. Suitable for a bog garden.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Boggy damp conditions, Moisture-retentive
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Succisa pratensis
Other names
Devil's bit scabious, Scabiosa succisa, Blue ball, Blue bonnets, Blue buttons, Blue caps, Blue kiss, Blue scabious, Curl daddy, Fore-bit, Fore-bitten-more, Ofbit, Ofbitten, Blauwe knoop
Genus
Succisa Succisa
Species
S. pratensis - S. pratensis is a rosette-forming, rhizomatous, deciduous perennial with ovate to elliptic, grey-green leaves and branched stems bearing pincushion-like, violet flower heads from midsummer into autumn.
Native to
Europe, Great Britain, Western Asia
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Rosette
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Violet in Summer; Violet in Autumn
Foliage
Grey-green in Spring
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Diseases
Generally disease free. Resistant to cucumber mosaic virus.
General care
Pruning
Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering.
Propagation
Sow seeds in a cold frame in spring.
Propagation methods
Division, Basal cuttings, Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Succisa pratensis (Devil's bit scabious) will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance, Wildflower, Wildlife
Cultivation
Grow in poor to moderately fertile, peaty, moist soil in full sun or partial shade. Suitable for a bog garden.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Boggy damp conditions, Moisture-retentive
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Boggy damp conditions, Moisture-retentive | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
Urquhart & Hunt’s Rewilding Britain garden at Chelsea Flower Show reveals the key role that beavers play as ecosystem engineers in landscape restoration. Landscape designers Urquhart… read more
Designed by brothers Hugh and Howard Miller, the Alder Hey Urban Foraging Station is a woven landscape; it is about weaving together the young and old, green and urban, play and learning and Alder… read more
By Reading based MSGD garden designer Andrea Newill. The property is in a stunning location within an area of outstanding natural beauty bordering national trust meadows and ancient woodland. read more
Cloudy Bay, the pioneering winery in Marlborough, New Zealand, explores the notion of escape in its fourth RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016 created by celebrated, young landscape designer Sam Ovens. read more
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login