Medium native perennial with lavender-coloured flowers June to August. Prefers dry alkaline soils.
Distribution: A native British wild flower, which is fairly common throughout England
,Wales
and southern Scotland.
Habitat: It thrives on grassland and banks on dry, chalky (alkaline) soils.
Description: Perennial. Compact, leafy rosettes with flowers held on tall stems (up to 45cms). The pretty lilac flowers come out from June to September.
Uses: Small Scabious has been grown as a garden plant for many centuries, because of its' pretty lilac flowers. It was once thought by herbalists to be a remedy for skin complaints ranging from wounds and sores to dandruff and unwanted freckles!
Wildlife: Butterflies and bees are very attracted to the flowers in summer and birds take the seeds as they ripen.
Other Notes: The name is derived from the Latin word meaning itch.
