Scabiosa columbaria
Scabiosa columbaria, called the small scabious or dwarf pincushion flower, is a widespread species of flowering plant in the genus Scabiosa, native to Europe, Africa, and western Asia, from Sweden to Angola. In the garden it is a short-lived deciduous perennial. In the wild in Europe it prefers to grow in calcareous grasslands.
Growing to tall by, it has simple branched grey-green leaves, and pale lavender or blue multi-petalled flowers from summer to autumn.
Subspecies
The following subspecies are currently accepted:- Scabiosa columbaria subsp. banatica Diklic
- Scabiosa columbaria subsp. caespitosa Jamzad
- Scabiosa columbaria subsp. columbaria
- Scabiosa columbaria subsp. pratensis Braun-Blanq.