A short, erect, hairless plant, the stems sticky above, especially at the nodes. Leaves often greyish, the upper leaves unstalked and clasping the stem. Flowers bright pink, 14 to 16 mm in rather flat topped clusters, the petals shallowly notched and the calyx reddish.

Dry places, disturbed ground, sometimes in shaded areas.

Flowers June to September.

Annual or biennial.

Scattered localities, mainly in southern Britain. Often found as a garden escape.

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland where the record at Fosse Meadows, Sharnford on 10th July 2014 is the first for VC55.  In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was not recorded.