Fumaria occidentalis

RHS Plant Profile
western fumitory

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Annual Biennial

An annual with a scrambling or climbing habit, reaching up to 50cm in height. It has finely divided, greyish-green leaves giving a feathery appearance and produces tubular flowers approximately 12-14mm in length, that are initially whitish with dark pink tips, turning pink as they age from March to June

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or 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)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Papaveraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Trailing
Genus
A genus of annual flowering plants with a scrambling habit, often found on waste ground or in fields as well as gardens where it can be seen as a weed. They have grey-green leaves and crimson-red tipped pink flowers, which appear in spring and summer
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
SW England

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in light, well-drained soil in a sunny location

Propagation

Propagate by seed. Self-seeds freely

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free