Pheasant’s-eye, known as ‘Adonis annua’ is a very attractive plant with deep red cup-shaped flowers that resemble an anemone. A cornfield annual, the petals have a dark basal spot with black anthers. Leaves are finely divided with bright green parallel-sided segments. Plants can grow up to 50 cm tall and often branched. A native of Mediterranean region of Europe; it has long naturalised northwards to Britain. Although records are widespread throughout southern Britain with isolated sites as far north as central Scotland, it has never been abundant. The majority or remaining sites are restricted to Wiltshire and Hampshire.
