Practical
Plants

Knautia arvensis

Field Scabious

a perennial member of the Knautia genus in the family Dipsacaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Knautia
Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 m
Spread
0.4 m
Fertility
Bees, Lepidoptera
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Lepidoptera

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant is astringent and mildly diuretic[8]. An infusion is used internally as a blood purifier and externally for treating cuts, burns and bruises[8]. The fresh or dried flowering plant can be used, with or without the roots[8]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[8]. It is used as a blood purifier and as a treatment for eczema and other skin disorders[8].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Homeopathy

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, north to latitude 69°, east to the Caucasus and W. Siberia.
Habitat
Meadows, pastures, hedgebanks and grassy hills, usually on dry soils and especially on limestone[8][2][3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have enough seed it would be worthwhile trying a sowing in situ outdoors in the spring. The seed germinates in the spring in the wild. Division in the spring. Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10 - 15cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in any well-drained soil[3]. Prefers a dry soil[8][2]. Grows well on chalky soils[7]. Prefers a sunny position[4]. A very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -25°c[3]. Grows well in the summer meadow[6][3]. The plant is an important source of nectar and pollen for bees and lepidoptera[6][1]. The plants are sometimes dioecious, if this is the case then male and female plants will need to be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

    ↩

  2. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

  6. Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.

    ↩1↩2

  7. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩

  8. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

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