Small Scabious is a charming wildflower that adds a touch of delicate beauty to grasslands, meadows, and hillsides across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. Belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family, this perennial herb is admired for its soft lavender-blue blooms that dance gracefully in the breeze. Though it may appear fragile, the Small Scabious is a resilient and long-flowering plant that has earned its place as a favorite among wildflower enthusiasts and pollinators alike.
This plant typically grows up to 60 centimeters tall, with slender, wiry stems topped by rounded flower heads. Each flower head is made up of many small florets that create a pincushion-like appearance — a trait that has made scabious flowers affectionately known as “pincushion flowers.” The blooms, which appear from midsummer to early autumn, attract bees, butterflies, and other insects with their rich supply of nectar. Its finely divided leaves form a low rosette at the base, giving the plant a graceful structure even when not in bloom.