IDENTIFICATION
Regional Noxious. Perennial.
Field scabious has large violet to pink, clover-like flowers at
the ends of long leafless stalks. Stems are upright and hairy with coarsely
toothed, feather-shaped leaves. Field scabious has a well developed,
woody taproot.
DAMAGE
It competes with forage stands and native pastures and is capable of invading
undisturbed plant communities. Once established, field scabious
is difficult to eradicate. It is sometimes planted as an ornamental and
to attract butterflies.
HABITAT
It is found on roadsides, pastures, and fields at mid-elevations. Field
scabious is present the Cariboo and Peace agricultural regions and
is most troublesome in the Kootenays, Okanagan, Thompson, and Omineca
regions.
SPREAD
Most seeds fall from the plants but others can be spread by birds and
human activities.
