Aureolaria laevigata
Previously known as:
- Agalinis laevigata
- Aureolaria laevigata
- Dasistoma laevigata
- Gerardia levigata
- Phonetic Spelling
- or-ee-ah-LAIR-ee-uh lee-vih-GAY-tuh
- Description
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Smooth false foxglove, is a parasitic flowering plant in the Orobanchaceae or broomrape family. Most members of this genus are fully or partially parasitic and found on the roots of host plants in dry moist woods and thickets. This plant is semi-parasitic on the roots of oak trees and has a sprawling semi-erect growth habit that can resemble a vine. It is native to the eastern United States and spans from Pennsylvania to Georgia but can also be found west to Mississippi, and northeast to Ohio. Its native habitat is in woody mountainous regions where it enjoys partial sun, dry conditions, and sandy or rocky soil so while it is found throughout North Carolina, it is most common in the Piedmont and mountainous regions. Due to its parasitic characteristics, smooth false foxglove thrives when it is planted near an oak tree as a host plant.
The bright yellow flowers and shiny green leaves resemble Gelsemium sempervirens but the stems on Aureolaria laevigata are square not round.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- 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:
- Aureolaria
- Species:
- laevigata
- Family:
- Orobanchaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- The eastern United States, from Pennsylvania to Georgia
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Mountains
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Lipped
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Spike of yellow, tubular flowers in late summer come from fat yellow buds. Flowers have five wide-spreading lobes and a bilateral 1 inch corolla that resembles a snapdragon with the upper lip two lobed and the lower lip three lobed. The pistil is surrounded by four stamens
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Smooth shiny narrowly lanceolate green leaves with short petioles and entire to wavy margins mostly without lobes.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- simple or sparingly branched, smooth green stem
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Problems:
- Frequent Insect Problems
