WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Widespread and fairly frequent throughout the UK. Habitat includes: Dry, shallow, neutral to basic soils in places such as rock outcrops, cliffs, screes, walls, spoil heaps, railway ballast, roadside verges, arable field margins, wasteland etc. 2 subspecies: Slender Sandwort (Arenaria serpyllifolia subsp. leptoclados), Thyme-leaved Sandwort (Arenaria serpyllifolia ssp. serpyllifolia). Growing habit: Winter (sometimes summer) Annual. ID: Fruit capsules have curved sides in ssp. serpyllifolia and straight sides in ssp. leptoclados. serpyllifolia is also larger than leptoclados.