Bastard Pimpernel May 2026

It thrives in moist, sandy, or gravelly soils that are low in nutrients.

Antique Hand Colored Print (1867) – "Bastard Pimpernel - eBay

The leaves are small, egg-shaped, and arranged alternately along the stem. bastard pimpernel

Because it is so small and easily overlooked, the true population levels of Bastard Pimpernel can be difficult to track. However, it is considered a in several areas because it relies on "early successional" habitats—places that are periodically disturbed. Without such disturbance, larger plants eventually shade it out.

You can often find it in damp hollows, track ruts, the edges of ponds, and seasonally flooded areas where competition from larger, more aggressive plants is minimal. It thrives in moist, sandy, or gravelly soils

It typically grows only 2 to 8 centimeters tall. The stems are reddish and often branched from the base.

Its flowers are almost microscopic, appearing in the leaf axils. They are usually white or pale pink, possessing a four-parted corolla that is shorter than the surrounding green calyx. However, it is considered a in several areas

It was named for its superficial resemblance to the Scarlet Pimpernel ( Anagallis arvensis ), though it is significantly smaller and less colorful.