Medium to tall erect plant, stems unbranched. Leaves lanceolate and short stalked. The flowers are large, white or purple, 15 to 20 mm, in broad panicles and they are fragrant.

Semi shaded, moist habitats, found in hedgerows and wood borders, on river-banks, roadsides and waste ground, usually near habitation.

May to July.

A perennial, or sometimes biennial, herb. It is often well-naturalised, but only where there is little competition. Casual plants occur on tips and in waste places.

Widespread throughout Britain as a casual plant and rarely persisting.

Occasional casual in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 54 of the 617 tetrads.