Anagallis monelli
Garden pimpernel · Flaxleaf pimpernel · Mediterranean pimpernel · Flax-leaved pimpernel · Shrubby pimpernel
Description
Source: leafsnapLysimachia monelli, the blue pimpernel or garden pimpernel (formerly known as Anagallis monelli) is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, native to the Mediterranean region. It is not to be confused with Lysimachia foemina, which has very similar blue flowers, but broader leaves and can be found also in colder climates. In a comparison of DNA sequences, L. monelli was shown to be most closely related to L. foemina. The latter had been thought by many to be closest to L. arvensis, and some authors had even included L. foemina as a subspecies of L. arvensis. The three species were among several transferred from Anagallis to Lysimachia in a 2009 paper.Lysimachia monelli is a low-growing perennial with trailing stems. Wild specimens have blue or orange coloured flowers and are not sympatric with the blue-flowered plants growing natively in southern Spain and the orange in Morocco and southern Italy. A red variant was also developed by breeding at the University of New Hampshire. The orange-coloured flowers have a higher concentration of pelargonidin pigment, while blue flowers have a higher concentration of malvidin. The red-coloured flowers are due to the relative concentrations of delphinidin and malvidin pigments. In addition to the blue, orange and red forms, a white form of the flower also exists.In cultivation in temperate regions this plant is often grown as an annual. As Anagallis monellii it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
🌳 Aside from its role in folklore, scarlet pimpernel functions as a bioindicator for certain soil contaminants. Studies have found that the presence of scarlet pimpernel can signal soils containing copper because the plant can tolerate and accumulate the metal. This trait points to the potential use of scarlet pimpernel in environmental monitoring and phytoremediation strategies.
🎭 Unpretentious, unassuming
Care Guide
💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun
Scarlet pimpernel does best when receiving plentiful sunlight during the day. Although it can persist with moderate light, it grows most vigorously with abundant sun. Excessive shade can slow its growth, while too much light can cause it to be scorched. Its native habitat is characterized by substantial daily sunlight.
🌡️ Temperature 0–35°C
Scarlet pimpernel can adjust to a wide range of temperature conditions, but its distribution may still be restricted by different combinations of water and heat. It does best in warm summer climates with sufficient rainfall or regular watering. Extended periods of cloudy, rainy weather or prolonged high temperatures can raise the chance of the plant dying. In winter, protecting it from the cold can increase its survival rate.
💨 Humidity
🪴 Soil 6-6
🌱 Fertilizer
When most of the Scarlet pimpernel’s blooms are fully open, resume fertilizing. At peak bloom, apply fertilizer every three to four weeks, as weather permits. When the Scarlet pimpernel begins producing fewer new blooms, stop fertilizing; there’s no need to feed the plant when it can no longer produce more blooms.
🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity
Characteristics
- Plant Type
- Herb
- Life Cycle
- Annual, Biennial
- Genus
- Anagallis
- Family
- Primulaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 7-10
- Mature Height
- 5 cm to 40 cm
- Mature Spread
- 40 cm
- Leaf Color
- Green
- Leaf Type
- Semi-evergreen
- Flower Color
- Blue, Red, Orange
- Flower Size
- 0.76 cm to 1.52 cm
- Bloom Time
- Late spring, Early summer, Mid summer
- Planting Time
- Spring
- Harvest Time
- Early summer, Mid summer
- Native Area
- Libya, Turkey, Sweden, India, United Arab Emirates, Slovakia, Montenegro, Pakistan, Slovenia, Morocco, Croatia, Belarus, Germany, Romania, Latvia, Belgium, Portugal, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Cyprus, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Chad, Lebanon, China, Afghanistan, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Italy, Japan, Finland, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kuwait, Egypt, Austria, Yemen, Uzbekistan, Russia, Iraq, Estonia, Oman, South Korea, France, Nepal, Tajikistan, Czech Republic, Mauritania, Armenia, Poland, Greece, Serbia, Lithuania, Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, Bhutan, Albania, Ireland, United Kingdom, Hungary, Algeria, Turkmenistan