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Fumaria capreolata

white ramping-fumitory

Papaveraceae

Mediterranean region and western Europe

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

Overview

Fumaria capreolata is a scrambling annual in the Papaveraceae, with weak, ribbed stems that climb 12–40 inches (30–100 cm) through other vegetation by means of twining leaf-stalks. The grey-green leaves are two to three times divided into small, flat, wedge-shaped segments, giving a feathery outline. Tubular two-lipped flowers, each 0.4–0.5 inch (10–13 mm) long, are creamy white tipped with dark purple-red and are carried in dense racemes of up to twenty blooms. Flowering runs from spring into summer, after which the flower-stalks curve downward and each flower forms a small, rounded one-seeded nutlet. It grows on cultivated and disturbed ground, hedge banks, and walls across the Mediterranean and western Europe, and is naturalised more widely. As a fast annual it completes its cycle quickly and relies on continual seeding, so it can become weedy on open soil. Plants collapse without support and die off entirely after setting seed.

Native Range

Native to the Mediterranean region and western Europe, on cultivated land, hedge banks, walls, and other disturbed ground. It has naturalised in parts of North America, Australia, and other temperate areas.

Suggested Uses

Grown over low supports, banks, and informal fences for its feathery foliage and two-toned flowers. It also self-sows into gravel gardens and naturalistic, disturbed-ground plantings.

How to Identify

Recognised by grey-green, finely divided feathery leaves and dense racemes of creamy white flowers tipped dark purple-red, each 0.4–0.5 inch (10–13 mm) long. The larger flowers and white ground colour separate it from Fumaria officinalis, which has smaller pink-purple flowers. Stems scramble by twining leaf-stalks rather than tendrils.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'4"

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers from spring into summer, roughly April to August depending on when seed germinates. Racemes open in succession, and the fruiting stalks bend downward as the rounded nutlets form.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

creamy white tipped purple-red

Foliage Description

grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 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 Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to light shade on free-draining, moderately fertile soils, including disturbed and stony ground. Water needs are low to moderate, and the plant tolerates dry spells once rooted. Seed is sown directly in autumn or early spring, as the plant resents root disturbance from transplanting. It scrambles over low shrubs, fences, or twiggy supports rather than standing alone. Self-sown seedlings appear freely and can be thinned where unwanted. As an annual it needs no winter protection and dies after seeding.

Pruning

No formal pruning is needed for this annual. Straggly stems can be trimmed to keep growth within bounds during the season. Whole plants are cleared once they yellow and die after seeding.

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 2 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets and humans

Planting Guide

Planting Methods & Timing

Planting Method

direct sow

Direct Sow Timing

autumn or early spring

Plant Spacing

12 inches