Succisa pratensis Moench
Devil's-Bit Scabious
Devil's-bit scabious is a native perennial that carries neat, rounded heads of mauve to violet-blue flowers on tall, slender stems above a basal rosette of smooth leaves. Its curious common name comes from the short, abruptly cut-off root, which folklore once explained as having been bitten away by the devil.
About
Devil's-bit scabious is a native perennial that carries neat, rounded heads of mauve to violet-blue flowers on tall, slender stems above a basal rosette of smooth leaves. Its curious common name comes from the short, abruptly cut-off root, which folklore once explained as having been bitten away by the devil. Unlike the true scabious species, its florets are of more even length, giving the heads a tighter, button-like shape.
It grows on damp, unimproved ground such as wet meadows, fens, marshes, heaths and moist grassland, and it tolerates both acidic and lime-rich soils that are low in nutrients. Flowering distinctly late, from late summer into autumn, it offers an important last flush of nectar for bees, butterflies and hoverflies, and it is the key larval food plant of the rare marsh fritillary butterfly. This makes it a prized species for damp meadow restoration and conservation-focused seed mixes.
Also known as
Devilsbit · Devil’s Bit Scabious · devil's-bit · devil's-bit-scabious · marsh devil's-bit · premorse
Synonyms
Asterocephalus succisa · Asterocephalus succisa glabratus · Asterocephalus succisa hirsutus · Asterocephalus tomentosus · Lepicephalus inflexus · Lepicephalus succisa · Scabiosa borealis · Scabiosa glabrata · Scabiosa hirsuta
In our seed mixes
- BFS 1 – Traditional Hay Meadow Wildflower Mix
- BFS 120 – Wildlife Wildflower Seed Mix for Bees, Birds and Butterflies- 100% Flora
- BFS 2 – Acid Grassland Wildflower Seed Mix for Sandy or Peaty Soils
- BFS 3 – Floodplain Meadow Grassland Seed Mix
- BFS 5 – Wetland & Pond Edge Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS1(F) – Traditional Hay Meadow 100% Wildflower
- BFS2(F)- Acid Grassland 100% Wildflowers for Sandy/Peaty Soils
- BFS3(F)-Floodplain 100% Meadow Grassland Mix
- BFS5(F)-Wetland & Pond Edge 100% Wildflower Seed Mix
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.