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Pruning guide · Perennial
Devil's-bit scabious: when and how to prune
Succisa pratensis
Devil's-bit scabious is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Flowering | August–October |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees and butterflies |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Devil's-bit scabious: when to prune it?
Leave the stems standing over winter and cut them down in March, before new growth starts.
What else to prune in those months? March
Devil's-bit scabious: how to prune it?
- Cut the old, dried stems back to just above the leaf rosette.
- Leave the seed heads until then: they decorate the winter garden and self-seed.
- In a flowering meadow, mow in March and remove the cuttings.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Devil's-bit scabious flowers in August–October, when it attracts bees and butterflies.
- If you only cut back in March, the old stems stand through the winter: insects overwinter in them and birds eat the seeds.
- As a native plant, it feeds more insects than a non-native species.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Devil's-bit scabious · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.