This is the commonest cultivated species, another Eurasian native escaped extensively in dry or moist ground, especially along trails and roads through forests (even spreading into the forests); neglected lawns, shores, dumps, and other ± disturbed sites in sandy, rocky, or rich soils, but not in very wet sites. First collected in 1912 on Mackinac Island, Mackinac Co.

A variable species, this one is frequently white-flowered and occasionally pink-flowered. Rarely (especially with white- or pink-flowered plants) the corolla may be a little smaller than usual (± 4 mm broad). This species is short lived, typically fowering in the second year from seed and often being only biennial, sometimes living an extra year or two.