WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Widespread and fairly common throughout the UK, especially in the south-west. Habitat includes: disturbed and cultivated places such as arable fields, gardens, allotments, wasteland, rabbit warrens, rocky bare ground, coastal cliffs, chalk downland, heathland, sand dunes, trampled paths, pavements etc. Other names include: Shepherd's Weather-glass, Shepherd's Clock, Poor Man's Weather-glass (derived from the fact its flowers close in poor weather), Poor Man's Barometer, Old Man's Weathervane, Blue Scarlet Pimpernel, Red Pimpernel, Red Chickweed. A member of the Primrose family (Primulaceae). Growing Habit: annual / short-lived perennial. Flowers: May to October.

5 colour forms are recognised:

• f. arvensis (the typical plant with scarlet-red flowers)
• f. azurea (with blue flowers, recently regarded as a separate species - L. loeflingii, not to be confused with L. foemina)
• f. carnea (with peachy or salmon-pink flowers)
• f. lilacina (with lilac-pink flowers)
• f. pallida (with white flowers)