Seek out the Scarlet Pimpernel
Once considered a weed of cornfields, the Scarlet Pimpernel is now in decline due to intensive agricultural practices. It can be found in arable fields, on roadside verges and waste ground, and on coastal cliffs.
Flowering between June and September, Scarlet pimpernel is a common arable weed and is most famous for being the emblem of the fictional hero of the same name.
It is sometimes also known 'Old man's weathervane' or 'Shepherd's weather-glass' as the flowers close when atmospheric pressure falls and bad weather approaches.
Scarlet pimpernel can be found in arable fields and gardens, on coastal cliffs, roadside verges and chalk downlands. The plant is native to Europe, West Asia and North Africa but has been distributed widely around the worldby humans, either deliberately as an ornamental flower or accidentally.
Further reading
Links to external websites are not maintained by Bite Sized Britain. They are provided to give users access to additional information. Bite Sized Britain is not responsible for the content of these external websites.