As its name might suggest, this perennial occurs mainly near the sea. Growing to 20cm, mostly on shingle and cliffs from June to August, it has snow-white flowers (20-25mm across), with overlapping petals. Its sepal-tube is inflated to form a bladder and carries a beautiful tracery of reddish markings. The flowers are borne in a loose cluster. Sea Campion's grey-green leaves are slightly fleshy which helps it to retain moisture in the face of sea winds. This plant is a native and belongs to the Carophyllaceae family.
I first identified this flower on Rossadillisk, Co Galway in 1975 and photographed at Saltmills, Co Wexford in 2009.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
