We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Anagallis arvensis - L.

Common Name Scarlet Pimpernel
Family Primulaceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards The seeds are slightly poisonous to some mammals, but no cases involving people are known[13, 76]. Skin contact with the plant can cause dermatitis in some people[76].
Habitats Roadsides and cultivated land[9], preferring rather sandy soils[7].
Range Throughout most of the world, including Britain, but absent from the Tropics.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Anagallis arvensis Scarlet Pimpernel


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_Anagallis_caerulea0.jpg
Anagallis arvensis Scarlet Pimpernel
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fabelfroh

 

Translate this page:

Summary

A low-growing annual plant. Once highly regarded as a medicinal herb but now questioned due to it's toxicity. The whole herb is antitussive, cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, nervine, purgative, stimulant and vulnerary.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Anagallis arvensis is a ANNUAL growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Shoots
Edible Uses:

Leaves - raw or cooked[2, 105, 115]. Used in salads[4] and as a spinach[2]. The tender shoots are cooked as a vegetable[272]. It is best not to eat these leaves[55, 238], see the notes above on toxicity.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antidepressant  Antipruritic  Antitussive  Antiviral  Cholagogue  Diaphoretic  Diuretic  Epilepsy  
Expectorant  Homeopathy  Nervine  Purgative  Stimulant  Vulnerary

The scarlet pimpernel was at one time highly regarded as a medicinal herb, especially in the treatment of epilepsy and mental problems[254], but there is little evidence to support its efficacy and it is no longer recommended for internal use because it contains toxic saponins and cytotoxic cucurbitacins[238, 254]. The whole herb is antitussive, cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, nervine, purgative, stimulant and vulnerary[4, 7, 9, 21, 46]. It can be taken internally or applied externally as a poultice[7]. An infusion is used in the treatment of dropsy, skin infections and disorders of the liver and gall bladder[9, 272]. The plant is best harvested in June and can be dried for later use[4]. Use with caution[21], large doses can cause polyuria and tremor[7]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[9]. It is used internally to treat itchy skins and externally to remove warts[9].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Soap

The squeezed plant is used in Nepal for washing and bathing[272]. Anagallis arvensis is insecticidal or at least is repellent to some insects. Dynamic accumulator.

Special Uses

Dynamic accumulator

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a sunny position and a good soil[1]. Succeeds in dry or sandy soils[238]. The flowers open at about 8 am and close at 3pm each day, though they close earlier if it rains. The flowers are also said to foretell wet weather if they close early[207].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Common Names include: blue pimpernel; care-all; common pimpernel; poor man's weatherglass; red chickweed. Spanish: coralillo; jaboncillo; murrajes; pilpis; pimpinela escarlata. French: morgeline; morgeline d'ete; mouron des champs; mouron rouge. Arabic: 'ayen el jamel. Portuguese: escarlate; morriao vermelho; murriao. Algeria: lizireg; meridjana. Brazil: escalarte. Chile: pimpinela azul. Croatia: krika poljska. Czechoslovakia (former): drchnicka roini. Denmark: rod arve. Egypt: 'ain el-gamal; omm lebben; qonfooda; saboon gheit. Finland: puna alpi. Germany: Acker Gauchheil; Feld Gauchheil; Roter Gauchheil. Hawaii: poisonous pimpernel. Hungary: mezel tikszem. India: biliputi (Punjabi); krishnaneel. Iran: bazrak vahshee. Iraq: rmaimeeneh. Italy: anagallide rossa; bellichina; mordi-gallina. Japan: akabana aruri hakobe. Lebanon: adhan el far el nabti; lubbayn; zaghila. Macedonia: vidovcica crvena. Mauritius: mouron. Netherlands: gewoon guichelheil; guichelheil. Norway: nonsblom; rodarve. Pakistan: bili booti. Poland: kurzyslad polny. Slovenia: njivna kurja cesnjica. South Africa: blouseblommetjie; rooimuur. Sweden: rodarv; roedarv. Taiwan: hwo-jin-gu. Turkey: tarla farekulagi. USA: poison chickweed; poisonweed; shepherd's clock; wink-a-peep Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro): vidovcia.

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Weedy in some areas of the US including Kentucky and the Northeast.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Veronica anagallis-aquaticaWater SpeedwellPerennial0.3 -  LMHNWeWa22 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Marinella Zepigi   Tue Jun 10 2008

Acta plantarum forum botanico Anagallis arvensis L. s.l. - Description - Photos

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Anagallis arvensis  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.