This little prostrate plant has covered a lot of ground in the century or so since it arrived in the British Isles. As it creeps along the ground, it roots, creating mats of round, loosely toothed green leaves which tend to turn bronze in autumn. Little pale pink or white flowers (6 – 7 mm) with four deeply notched petals are borne on long, upright stems from June to August. Like other members of the Willowherb family, it bears long, slender seedpods which split and bend back to release the seeds. This perennial is an introduction which is now, with the exception of the centre of Ireland, widespread, mostly growing in wet mountain habitats. It belongs to the Onagraceae family.
I first recorded and photographed this plant in Glenveagh National Park, County Donegal in 2010.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
