Devil’s bit scabious

Succisa pratensis

Native damp-meadow perennial with rounded violet-blue flower heads in late summer. Sole larval food plant of the rare marsh fritillary butterfly.

Hardiness ratings

Devil’s bit scabious hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 3–8 −40 °C to −6.7 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 3–8 −34 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–5 −15 °C to 10 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Sole larval food plant for the marsh fritillary butterfly — conservation-critical species in serious UK decline
  • Late-flowering — a key nectar source in August and September
  • Prefers damp, unimproved meadows — does not thrive on rich garden soils

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Devil’s bit scabious against your zones

Reference

Devil’s bit scabious on Wikipedia