These tall plants are numerous on the north bank of the river to the east of town. Alternative names such as Night Scented Gilliflower and Mother-of-the-evening indicate that their scent becomes stronger as the day goes on. You can see a range of flower colours in a small area: purple, pink, and white. The caterpillars of several butterflies like to eat them, and we can eat the young leaves too – they are high in vitamin C. The seeds are often included in wildflower seed mixes. However, the plant’s highly effective distribution of its numerous seeds can lead to it swamping other species, and in some areas of the US for example it is classified as an invasive pest.
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