Anagallis arvensis Seeds | Scarlet Pimpernel
LATIN NAME: Anagallis arvensis
COMMON NAME: Scarlet Pimpernel
Plant Profile
Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) is a low, sprawling annual of the primrose family (Primulaceae), native to Europe, western Asia and North Africa and now found worldwide. It creeps 10-30 cm, with paired oval leaves and small, brilliant scarlet (occasionally blue), five-petalled flowers that close when rain approaches — the ‘poor man’s weather-glass’. It is one of the most familiar wildflowers of fields and gardens.
Science & Biotechnology
Botanists studying the Anagallis group regularly include Anagallis arvensis in comparative work, and the species also appears in horticultural trials aimed at gardeners and growers. Raising it from seed today is a matter of ordinary good practice rather than specialist skill.
Uses & Benefits
Scarlet Pimpernel brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Scarlet pimpernel’s main appeal today is as a charming, low-growing wildflower for informal cottage garden plantings, its bright red blooms and old folkloric weather-predicting reputation giving it a certain rustic charm. Because plant contains compounds that can cause mild toxicity if eaten in quantity by livestock or pets, it is generally grown for its ornamental and historical interest rather than any edible or medicinal use. Thereafter it wants only the ordinary attentions any garden plant receives.
Pimpernels are tiny sky-blue or scarlet wildflowers with old folk records; they are grown as delicate annuals for pots and edges.
Growing from Seed
Seed is the natural starting point for Scarlet Pimpernel, and the process is uncomplicated. Sow seed directly where it is to grow, pressing it lightly into a loose, well-drained mix rather than burying it deeply. Full sun suits this low, sprawling annual well, and it typically self-seeds readily once established, often reappearing reliably in following seasons from its own dropped seed. A simple routine works well: sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, maintain even moisture, and provide full sun. Transplant the sturdiest seedlings to their permanent spots and let them develop without disturbance.
Our Take
Once established, Scarlet Pimpernel largely looks after itself. Established seedlings need little beyond ordinary attention.
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