Purple False Foxglove Agalinis purpurea
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ag-uh-LY-nus pur-PUR-ee-uh
- Description
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Purple Gerardia is a native annual found in woodlands, roadsides and open areas in Canada and the U.S.A. It is native to all areas of NC. The pink or purple tubular flowers are produced in abundance in late summer to fall and are visited by bees. It will reseed itself in the garden.
This plant prefers sun to light shade in acidic, moist, sandy peaty soils. It will tolerate most soils if they are well-drained. Use in native gardens, naturalized or woodland areas.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Agalinis
- Species:
- purpurea
- Family:
- Orobanchaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central Canada, central and eastern U.S.A., Cuba, Cayman Islands
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Agalinus support butterfly larvae and adults. Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) larvae appear from May to October and in the deep south they appear year-round. Common Buckeye adult butterflies feed on flower nectar. Members of the genus Agalinis support the following specialized bee: Anthophorula (Anthophorisca) micheneri, Leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.). Syrphid flies feed on pollen.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Round capsules that split open on top and have numerous tiny seeds that are dispersed by the wind in September to November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1 inch wide single flowers on 1/4" stalks and long tubular flowers 1/2"-1" long with 5 spreading petals in pink and purple have a whitish throat with purple spots and fine hairs along the edges. The upper two lobes are often smaller and the bottom three curve up. Stamens and style are white. The five sepals are fused to form a calyx with sharp teeth. They bloom from August to October.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green leaves are linear and 1-3 inches long with a prominent midrib and entire margins. The upper side can feel rough and have a purple tint.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Dark green upright stems are angled, grooved, and hairless. They can be slightly rough feeling.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
