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Euphrasia nemorosa

common eyebright

WaterLow

Overview

Euphrasia nemorosa is a small annual hemiparasite in the broomrape family, growing 5-35 cm (2-14 in) tall on slender, branching, often purplish stems. The small, oval leaves are 5-15 mm (0.2-0.6 in) long with sharp teeth and a stalkless base, set in opposite pairs. From summer it bears two-lipped flowers 5-8 mm (0.2-0.32 in) long, white to pale lilac with purple veins and a yellow spot on the lower lip, clustered toward the stem tips. Like other eyebrights it draws part of its water and nutrients from the roots of nearby grasses through underground connections while still photosynthesising. It grows in short grassland, heath, dunes, and grazed pasture on a range of soils. The species depends on host grasses and open, low-competition turf, so it fails in tall, dense vegetation or cultivated beds. Its tiny flowers and slight frame give little visual weight on their own.

Native Range

Euphrasia nemorosa is native to Europe, from Britain and Scandinavia through central and western regions. It grows in grassland, heath, and coastal turf across its range. It has been recorded as introduced in parts of North America.

Suggested Uses

Euphrasia nemorosa occurs in species-rich meadows, conservation grassland, and restored chalk or heath turf, where it forms part of low, grazed plant communities. It is established through seed in suitable grassland rather than planted out. It has a long folk history of use in eye remedies, now largely discontinued.

How to Identify

Identify it by tiny two-lipped white to lilac flowers with purple veining and a yellow throat, on a small branched plant among short grass. The sharply toothed, stalkless leaves and parasitic habit on grass roots are typical of the eyebrights. Euphrasia spp. species are hard to separate, and E. nemorosa is told by its branching upper stem and overlapping leaf-like bracts.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 1'2"

Width/Spread2" - 6"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~10 weeks

Summer Fall

Small white to pale lilac flowers open from July to September among short turf. Bees and flies visit the tiny two-lipped blooms. Flat seed capsules follow and ripen within the persistent calyx through late summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to lilac with yellow throat

Foliage Description

green, often purple-tinged

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam chalk sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

It grows in full sun on short, open, low-fertility grassland on free-draining soil, in close company with host grasses. As a hemiparasite it cannot establish without suitable grass roots nearby and is rarely grown in cultivation. It tolerates drought and grazing but is killed by tall, dense vegetation and rich, disturbed soil. The plant is a frost-tender annual that completes its cycle in one season and returns only from seed. Seed needs a cold winter period and the presence of host grasses to germinate well. Mowing or grazing that keeps turf short helps maintain a population.

Pruning

As a short-lived annual it is not pruned. Short grazing or late-summer mowing of its grassland keeps competing growth down and lets seed shed. Cut material is left until seed has dropped where the colony is to persist.