Fumaria officinalis L.
Common Fumitory
Common fumitory is a scrambling annual of the poppy family (Papaveraceae) and an archaeophyte — a long-naturalised arable weed rather than a native. The old name 'earth-smoke' captures the hazy look of its delicate, much-divided grey-green foliage, which from a distance can seem to hover over the soil.
About
Common fumitory is a scrambling annual of the poppy family (Papaveraceae) and an archaeophyte — a long-naturalised arable weed rather than a native. The old name 'earth-smoke' captures the hazy look of its delicate, much-divided grey-green foliage, which from a distance can seem to hover over the soil. The weakly upright, branching stems carry spikes of small tubular flowers, pink and tipped with a dark maroon-purple.
It is a classic plant of cultivated and disturbed ground — arable field margins, allotments, gardens and freshly turned earth — and is widespread across Britain, mostly on lighter, lowland soils. Flowering is long, broadly from May into autumn, providing nectar for bees over an extended season. As a fast, self-seeding cornfield annual it suits arable-reversion and conservation seed mixes, and it lends an airy, ferny texture wherever bare ground is regularly disturbed.
Also known as
Drug Fumitory · Fumitory · Wax-dolls · earth-smoke · hedge fumitory
Synonyms
Fumaria officinalis media · Fumaria officinalis officinalis
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.