This plant of boggy places isn't very tall so unlike Valeriana officinalis (Common Valerian) or Centranthus ruber (Red Valerian) it doesn't necessarily stand out in a verge of assorted vegetation. It can be white or pink and there are male and female plants.

The distribution is peculiar for a native plant in that it is commoner in northern England than southern, is quite often found in southern Scotland but suddenly stops in the Scottish borders rarely being found further north in central and northern Scotland. It is common in Wales except near the coast but is not found at all in Ireland.

Verge near Garrigill, Cumbria 16th June 2008

Added on 1st March 2009, updated 19th February 2012