News & Events

Weed of the Week - Field Scabious

Weed Of The Week
Field Scabious AKA Bluebuttons (Knautia arvensis)
Noxious Under Alberta's Weed Control Act
Submitted By Kelly Cooley, CoolPro Solutions

Field Scabious is a tall, deeply tap-rooted perennial non-native invasive plant that prefers foothills rangeland & pasture, but also does well in hay crops. This species has recently been reclassified as part of the honeysuckle family. Leaves on germinating first-year ‘rosette’ seedlings are lance-shaped, quite different from the more divided leaves found growing opposite to each other on bolting stems of second and subsequent year perennial regrowth. Field Scabious rarely flowers before July, but treatments are more successful on first year rosettes or pre-flower on mature plants, making it important to learn to spot these leaves. July - September, solitary clusters of florets resembling single flowering heads form on the tops of long, progressively leafless stems. Seeds dropped in the fall may germinate the next season, or lay idle and viable for years, waiting for opportunities to germinate. More information can be found in the Field Scabious fact sheet from the Alberta Invasive Species Council, and you can report this invader yourself using their free EDDMapS application on your mobile device. For local control options for Field Scabious, please contact our Agricultural Fieldman at 403-339-8741.

Photo Credits:
Kelly Cooley, CoolPro Solutions
Teton County Weed & Pest, Wyoming
Sturgeon County Agricultural Services

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