Deptford pink  (Dianthus armeria)

This species is fairly common across most of western and central Europe. However, in the UK it is rare and declining faster than almost any other British plant. Once widespread, by 1970 it was reduced to 34 known sites and this figure was down to 15 sites by 1998. These sites are mostly in the south-east of England. The latest survey results revealed that at the end of the 1990s, the plant was found on 34 sites in England and Wales, although at most sites numbers were small.

Deptford pink is a plant of disturbed ground such as tracks, field edges and hedgerows, and dry pasture. It prefers light, dry, sandy soil with a high pH, indicating alkaline conditions. However, it has been found growing at Woodwalton Fen in Cambridgeshire, on quite acid, peaty soil.