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Euphrasia frigida

polar eyebright

A low-growing, hemi-parasitic annual that typically grows between 3 and 15 cm. It has bent-at-the-base stems with heart-shaped leaves and produces tiny white flowers with violet veins, measuring 5 to 7 mm in length, from July to August

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Ultimate height

Up to 10cm

Time to ultimate height

1 year

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Orobanchaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Subarctic

How to grow

Cultivation

Flourishes in sunny coastal areas, resilient against wind and salt spray, with the right host plants like grasses or legumes, it can establish well. See Creating wildflower meadows for further advice

Propagation

Propagation by seed sown in situ in late summer or autumn, allowing them to establish connections with suitable host plants.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Rock garden
Wildflower meadow
Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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