Knautia arvensis aka Bluebuttons

Knautia arvensis, also known as field scabious, is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial plant in the Caprifoliaceae family. It grows between 25 and 100 cm tall and prefers grassy places and dry soils. Blooming from July to September, it produces lilac-blue flowerheads that can reach up to 4cm in diameter. The plant has simple or pinnately lobed leaves and a tap root. Its stem is hairy with long stiff hairs angled downwards. The leaves form a basal rosette, with the lower leaves being spear-shaped and around 300 mm long. The upper leaves are smaller and paired on the stem. Knautia arvensis has escaped cultivation after being introduced as an ornamental plant. To remove it, one can wear gloves and gently pull out the plant with its root system or use a shovel for convenience.