Slender-leaved False Foxglove 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 a very fine textured native wildflower found in sunny areas in wet woodlands, thickets, meadows, along coastal shores, and in disturbed areas. Plant it in full sun to partial shade in moist well-drained soil though it does withstand many soil types and moisture levels. It self-seeds easily and will naturalize in the landscape.
It often shares the same habitat with A. purpurea which it is confused with, but is distinguished by the long stalks that support each flower. The flowers are showy late summer into fall. This plant is reported to be partially parasitic feeding off the roots of other plants. 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.
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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- Tags:
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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
- 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
- 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
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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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 Description:
- Single purple 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. The flowers are on a longer pedicle (flower stalk) than A. purpurea.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- 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"-2" long 1/8" 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
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
- Wet Soil
