Sweet scabious
Scabiosa atropurpurea
- Layer 4 · Herbaceous
- Attracts pollinators
Status by region
No restrictions recorded in the lists we checked.
Checked against the European Union list (Regulation 1143/2014) · Portugal's national invasive species list (Decreto-Lei 92/2019).
Information based on the cited sources, not legal advice — always confirm your local rules.
About
Annual or biennial herbaceous plant with purple flowers heavily visited by bees and butterflies over a prolonged flowering period. Integrates sunny borders of a food forest as a nectar-rich plant. Prefers light, well-drained, calcareous soils.
It can be planted now — September is one of the best months.
See which trees sweet scabious grows well with
These trees share this species' soil and climate — the pairing is inferred from conditions, not from a guild we have already seen.
No account needed.
Needs
- Water: Low
- Light: Full sun
- Size: Annual or biennial herbaceous plant up to 0.8 m
- Mature diameter: 0.4 m
- Soils: Sandy, Loam, Limestone
- Climates: Atlantic coast, Hot, dry Mediterranean
Calendar
- January
- February
- March — Planting
- April — Planting
- May
- June — Harvest
- July — Harvest
- August — Harvest
- September — Harvest — Planting
- October — Harvest — Planting
- November
- December
- Harvest
- Planting
Medicinal use: Traditionally, the plant was used in folk medicine in the form of washes or poultices to treat skin conditions, such as scabies, although its current use is very rare.
Where to buy
Central trees worth considering
May work well together — same soil and climate, complementary layers. We have not seen this combination in a generated guild yet.
May grow well with
Suggestions worked out from growing conditions — same soil and climate, complementary layers and functions. These are not observed guilds; treat them as a starting point to try on your own land.
Stone pinePinus pineasame climate · same soil · different layers · complementary functions · same exposure · same water needs
Holm oakQuercus rotundifoliasame climate · same soil · different layers · complementary functions · same exposure · same water needs
Portuguese oakQuercus fagineasame climate · same soil · different layers · complementary functions · same exposure · same water needs
Mediterranean cypressCupressus sempervirenssame climate · same soil · different layers · complementary functions · same exposure · same water needs
European nettle treeCeltis australissame climate · same soil · different layers · complementary functions · same exposure · same water needs
Maritime pinePinus pinastersame climate · same soil · different layers · complementary functions · same exposure · same water needs
Related plants
Other species in the same layer or with the same function.
It can be planted now — September is one of the best months.
See which trees sweet scabious grows well with
These trees share this species' soil and climate — the pairing is inferred from conditions, not from a guild we have already seen.
No account needed.
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