Succisa pratensis
Blue buttons, Devil's bit scabious
Also known as Scabiosa succisa
- Height × spread
- 0.6m × 0.4m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This makes a hearty, somewhat tangled plant with quite large, broadly lance shaped leaves coloured bright green. The flowers are carried on long, very slender stalks, rounded and scabious like. They are generally blue violet but some come in pink and white shades. This is a scabious that enjoys moisture, growing in boggy areas and happy in poor soil, preferring acid ones. It flowers from July through till October. It is found growing wild but is likely to be smaller under natural conditions.
- Flower colour
- Blue, Pink, Violet, White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 0.6m
- Spread
- 0.4m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Wild flower meadow
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- Acid (ericaceous), Neutral
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover, Bee attraction, Butterfly attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with sequestrol
If plants are acid loving and grown in soil with little acidity, or in a container, or are watered with limey tap water an annual feed with sequestrol (iron chelate) is highly beneficial. Follow guidelines on the packet. Will also 'blue-up' hydrangeas.
For hydrangeas that have good blue flowers in acid soil, this product can be used with alkaline soil to turn the flowers blue. This is most effective when the soil is neutral or just slightkly alkaline.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water frequently to keep the soil moist
The plant thrives in moist or boggy soil, doesn't tolerate dryness and should be watered frequently, not only after a period of drought, but if the soil begins to dry out spring to autumn. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Feed a general fertiliser
Where plants have moderate needs for nutrients, they can simply be given a general feed, fairly early in the growth season so that the growth has plenty of time to harden off before the cold weather.
Give plants a general boost with the application of a general purpose fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plant, with amounts as directed on the feed label.
Planting & general
Outdoors
Water with rain water
This plant needs rain water or soft water (the minerals in alkaline or "hard" water are harmful). This is especially important for plants in pots.