Anagallis arvensis

Anagallis arvensis

Scarlet Pimpernel

The Scarlet Pimpernel is a low-growing annual plant with brightly colored flowers, most often scarlet but also bright blue and sometimes pink. It has weak sprawling stems with square cross-sections growing to about 5-30 cm long. The bright green, soft, ovate sessile leaves are arranged in opposite pairs. The radially symmetric flowers, about 10-15 mm in diameter, are produced singly in the leaf axils from spring to autumn. The plant is known for its habit of opening flowers only when the sun shines and closing them in overcast conditions, earning it names like 'shepherd's weather glass.'

Details

Order:

Ericales

Family:

Primulaceae

Genus:

Anagallis

Chemistry:

The plant contains saponins, tanning agents, bitters, and the proteolytic enzyme primverase. It also has a pungent essential oil that is repellent to some insects. The root yields the triterpenoid glycoside cyclamin, which is highly toxic.

Uses:

The Scarlet Pimpernel has been used in folk medicine for various ailments such as slow-healing ulcers, wounds, expectorant, pruritus, rheumatism, haemorrhoids, rabies, leprosy, snake-bite, phthisis, and kidney-related conditions. It has also been used as an antidepressant in ancient Greece and to treat mental disorders in European folk medicine. The plant is toxic to livestock and can cause gastroenteritis and other harmful effects if ingested.

Flowering time:

Spring to Autumn

Sowing time:

Plant height:

5-30 cm

Flower color:

Scarlet, bright blue, sometimes pink

Suitable habitat:

Light soils and clay soils. Native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa but naturalized almost worldwide.

Info

Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.

Tenders

Expert guidance for current/future CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) subsidy applications