small scabious
Quick Summary
Small scabious, scientifically known as Scabiosa columbaria, is a perennial herb native to temperate Eurasia and Africa. It belongs to the genus Scabiosa, which features about 30 species of annual and perennial herbs in the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae).1
These plants typically have basal leaf rosettes and hairy or smooth leafy stems. The flower heads are composed of many small, five-lobed blooms, with larger female flowers on the outer ring. Below each flower head, there is a circle of leaflike bracts. Small scabious can grow up to 60 cm (24 inches) tall and produces light blue flowers approximately 3.5 cm (1.5 inches) across. Some species of scabious are popular garden plants.1
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
