Slender Agalinis Agalinis tenuifolia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ag-uh-LY-nus te-nu-i-FO-lee-ah
- Description
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Slender-leaved false foxglove is an annual wildflower in the figwort family (Orobanchaceae) native to the United States and Canada, found in sunny areas in wet woodlands, thickets, meadows, along coastal shores, and in disturbed areas. Agalinis comes from the Greek word aga which means remarkable and linum is from the Latin word for flax, because the flowers somewhat resemble flax flowers. The species tenuifolia means narrow leaves.
Plant it in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained sandy or loamy soil, though it withstands rocky soils. The plant grows 1 to 2 feet tall and half as wide, self-seeding easily, to naturalize in the landscape.
The showy bell-shaped flowers are purplish to pink with a lighter spotted throat and appear late summer into fall. This plant is reported to be partially parasitic when certain grasses are present.
Use this plant in naturalized areas or along ponds or bogs to provide late-season color for native or pollinator gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. This plant may be challenging to grow in a cultivated landscape.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Agalinis
- Species:
- tenuifolia
- Family:
- Orobanchaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Canada, Central and Eastern North America
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV , WY Canada: MB , NB , ON , QC
- 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.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 7 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/4" shiny globular capsule with wind dispersed seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Single purple to pink bell to funnel shaped flowers form in the upper leaf axils. They have 5 lobes and a spotted throat and hairy edges. The two top petals are smaller and form a hood the larger three lower petals flare out. Stamen and style are white. Flowers are short-lived lasting only a day or two and only a few flowers on a branch bloom at a time. Individual flowers are 1/2 to 3/4 inch across.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, linear, 3/4 to 2 inches long 1/8 inch wide with entire margins and large midrib vein. In dry conditions leaves may take on a purple -red hue.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Angled stems with narrow ridges, green but can turn purple-red in drought, smooth to the touch.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
