# scarlet pimpernel (*Lysimachia arvensis*) The scarlet pimpernel is a bright red flower that blooms in fields and gardens. It has small, star-shaped petals and is loved by butterflies and bees. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 68 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![scarlet pimpernel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Scarlet_Pimpernel_%28Lysimachia_arvensis%29_-_Pollen%C3%A7a%252C_Spain_2022-04-15.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ryan Hodnett, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scarlet_Pimpernel_%28Lysimachia_arvensis%29_-_Pollen%C3%A7a%252C_Spain_2022-04-15.jpg) ## Appearance The scarlet pimpernel is a small, low-growing plant with delicate, square stems. It has tiny, five-petaled, star-shaped flowers that are typically bright orange-red, sometimes salmon or blue, with a darker purple eye. Its oval leaves are opposite and unstalked. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Primulaceae - **Genus:** Lysimachia ## Interesting facts - Ancient Romans believed carrying scarlet pimpernel could protect them from evil spirits. - Its scientific name, \*Lysimachia arvensis\*, actually means 'loose strife of the fields.' - The tiny seeds can stay hidden and alive in the soil for over 20 years, waiting for perfect conditions! - This flower is often called the 'poor man's weather-glass' for its ability to predict rain! ## Special abilities - **Weather Watcher:** Scarlet pimpernel can close its flowers rapidly when rain is coming, helping protect its pollen and seeds. - **Seed Sprinter:** Scarlet pimpernel has explosive seed pods that can fling seeds several feet away, helping it spread quickly. - **Fast Life Cycle:** Scarlet pimpernel can grow and produce seeds very quickly, allowing it to complete its life cycle in a single season. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-30 cm - **Spread:** 10-50 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Transfers pollen between flowers. - **Eaten by:** grey field slug (*Deroceras reticulatum*) — Feeds on the leaves and young shoots. - **Depends on:** black bean aphid (*Aphis fabae*) — Sucks sap from the plant's stems. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify scarlet pimpernel? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is scarlet pimpernel? 5-30 cm ### How wide does scarlet pimpernel spread? 10-50 cm ### How big are the flowers on scarlet pimpernel? 0.5-1.5 cm ### When does scarlet pimpernel bloom? Late spring to fall ### Is scarlet pimpernel edible? No ### Is scarlet pimpernel toxic? Mild ### What is scarlet pimpernel's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/armstrong-redwoods-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · State Park - [Bellevue Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellevue-avenue-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Blake Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blake-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Bloomingdale](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bloomingdale) — District of Columbia, US · Neighborhood - [Broadway Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-avenue-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Cabrillo National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cabrillo-national-monument) — California, US · National Park [View all places to see scarlet pimpernel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/scarlet-pimpernel) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Scarlet Pimpernel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/scarlet-pimpernel)