A prostrate plant of cultivated land, waysides, sand-dunes and shingle, Scarlet Pimpernel is also a common garden weed. Although the flowers are very small (4-8mm across), close up they are very showy, with hairy anthers. They are usually bright red, although other colours such as pink may be found along the coast.
The flowers only open between 8am and 3pm, and also are only open in sunshine, hence the plant is also known as Poor Man's Weatherglass.
Once the flower is over, its stalk curls downwards to position the round seed capsule closer to the ground. As it turns brown and ripens, it splits around the middle, and the top pops off, allowing the seeds to be distributed, as shown in the pictures below.