PlantFiles: Sheep's Bit Scabious, Sheep Scabious
Jasione laevis

I first met this little lovely on the west coast of Ireland, where it would grow out in the sun on the cliffs. I brought home some seed to Montana and it grew there, usually as a biennial. I have brought it now to Vashon, where it is thriving in full sun, and withstood a summer of neglect. Clouds of baby blue spherical flowerheads. Sort of like blue "thrift"

Small scabious like flower which is unrelated to the scabious family, has almost spherical flower heads of bright blue.

From the downlands of Southern England and South West Europe, this small plant is very choosy about its situation. While classed as a perennial it is often a biennial and an annual depending on its situation, its preference is for dry open grassland on lime or sandy soil. Its a valuable nectar plant for bees and butterflies alike.