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Scrophularia marilandica

Late Figwort

$3.00

Packet
$3.00

Tray of 38
Out of Stock
3 Pack
Out of Stock
Tray of 50
Out of Stock

NEW IN POTTED TRAYS! Most are not aware that Figworts are one of the best nectar species for attracting native butterflies, bees, other insects - and birds, including the Ruby-throated Hummingbird!   Large, serrated leaves and sturdy stalks boast shiny reddish-brown small flowers that appear to drip with nectar.  Figworts are given a special rating by the Xerces Society because of their value to insects: "Special Value to Native Bees: recognized by pollination ecologists as attracting a large numbers of native bees." and "Supports Conservation Biological Control: A plant that attracts predatory or parasitoid insects that prey upon pest insects."

If you have a large population of deer in your area, the tissues of Figworts contain many acrid compounds and thus they are usually not browsed by herbivores.  In the fall, these leaves and stalks will turn maroon (see photo) with tear-drop shaped seed pods filled with tons of tiny seeds.  Late Figwort, also known as Maryland Figwort, grows well in average garden soils, both on the wet or dry sides, and thrives in full sun but also tolerates up to 70% shade.

A close inspection of the flowers is needed to tell Early Figwort apart from Late Figwort, though, as their common names suggest, their flowering times rarely overlap.  Early Figwort blooms from May until July whereas this Late Figwort blooms from July until October.  Each can reach heights of over 5 feet and will readily re-seed in the right conditions. Their beauty is hard to capture in photos; these are definitely plants best enjoyed close-up and in person. The tissues of Figworts contain many acrid compounds and thus they are usually not browsed upon by herbivores. Rarely available from most nurseries, planting these strange Figworts will surely bring joy and novelty to any native landscape.

"I ordered some Late Figwort last year as part of a tray.  They didn't do really well and I worried they might not come back. They did come back and shot up and bloomed and have attracted so many insects.  I planted them for the bees and they do like them, but the hummingbirds adore them!  The plants themselves may not be very showy, but they are lovely in a quiet, airy way and the life around them makes them one of my favorite garden plants!"  - Diane H., IA

Live Plant Shipping Table

Spring Fall Age/Size
Potted 3-Packs May/June N/A 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep pots
Potted Trays of 38* May/June N/A 2" wide x 5" deep plugs
Potted Trays of 50 April-June August/September 2" wide x 5" deep plugs
*This species is a choice in the Mix & Match - Create Your Own Tray!

Scrophularia marilandica - Late Figwort

Map Key

Present in state
Present but introduced in county
Present and native in county; not rare
Not present in state
Present and native in county; rare
Species extirpated (historic)
State or county listed as noxious
Present in state; exotic

This map shows the native and introduced (adventive) range of this species. Given appropriate habitat and climate, native plants can be grown outside their range.

3 Questions asked on Scrophularia marilandica

Not a question, but a comment... I ordered some late figwort last year as a part of a tray. They didn't really do well and I worried that they might not come back. They did come back and shot up and bloomed and have attracted so many insects. I planted them for the bees and they do like them, but the hummingbirds adore them! The plants themselves may not be showy, but they are lovely in a quiet, airy way and all the life around them makes them one of my very favorite garden plants! Thank you.
We love this underappreciated native too! Thanks for sharing Diane!
I have a very small yard, with very little sunny space. Does this plant spread a lot when it re-seeds? Do individual plants tend to be short-lives or long-lived?
Hi Anne, This species will re-seed itself, but we do not consider it aggressive. Plants can behave differently in different environments, and climactic conditions from year-to-year can favor different species. So while it’s not unheard of that you could see this plant become very prolific, in our experience it is not a big spreader. We’d consider this a relatively short-lived perennial plant, with parent plants living for maybe 3-5 years, but new plants taking their place due to re-seeding.
Can late figwort be trimmed back in late spring early summer to keep it a shorter plant, like 4ft?
Hi Sandra. Late Figwort can be trimmed back several times throughout the spring season; limit each trim to about 6 inches. The repeated, minimal prunings can encourage many plants to bloom at a shorter height. There is always the risk that the plant will not bloom in the same season as a trim, though. If you have enough plants to experiment with, that would make a neat comparison!

Seed

Growing your own plants from seed is the most economical way to add natives to your home. Before you get started, one of the most important things to know about the seeds of wild plants is that many have built-in dormancy mechanisms that prevent the seed from germinating. In nature, this prevents a population of plants from germinating all at once, before killing frosts, or in times of drought. To propagate native plants, a gardener must break this dormancy before seed will grow.

Each species is different, so be sure to check the GERMINATION CODE listed on the website, in the catalog, or on your seed packet. Then, follow the GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS prior to planting. Some species don't need any pre-treatment to germinate, but some species have dormancy mechanisms that must be broken before the seed will germinate. Some dormancy can be broken in a few minutes, but some species take months or even years.

Seed dormancy can be broken artificially by prolonged refrigeration of damp seed in the process of cold/moist STRATIFICATION. A less complicated approach is to let nature handle the stratifying through a dormant seeding, sowing seeds on the surface of a weed-free site in late fall or winter. Tucked safely beneath the snow, seeds will be conditioned by weathering to make germination possible in subsequent growing seasons.

To learn more, read our BLOG: How to Germinate Native Seeds

Dormant Bare Root Plants

We dig plants when they are dormant from our outdoor beds and ship them April-May and October. Some species go dormant in the summer and we can ship them July/August. We are among the few still employing this production method, which is labor intensive but plant-friendly. They arrive to you dormant, with little to no top-growth (bare-root), packed in peat moss. They should be planted as soon as possible. Unlike greenhouse-grown plants, bare-root plants can be planted during cold weather or anytime the soil is not frozen. A root photo is included with each species to illustrate the optimal depth and orientation. Planting instructions/care are also included with each order.

Download: Installing Your Bare-Root Plants

Potted Plants

3-packs and trays of 32, 38, or 50 plants leave our Midwest greenhouses based on species readiness (being well-rooted for transit) and order date; Spring shipping is typically early May through June, and Fall shipping is mid-August through September. Potted 3-packs and trays of 38 plugs are started from seed in the winter so are typically 3-4 months old when they ship. Trays of 32/50 plugs are usually overwintered so are 1 year old. Plant tray cells are approximately 2” wide x 5” deep in the trays of 38 and 50, and 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep in the 3-packs and trays of 32; ideal for deep-rooted natives. Full-color tags and planting & care instructions are included with each order.

Download: Planting and Care of Potted Plants

*PLEASE NOTE: we are a mail order nursery and have no retail facilities, but you may pick up your order if prior arrangements are made. Pick up orders are subject to **MN Sales Tax.

US Shipping & Handling Charges

SEED $100.00 and under: $5.00
Retail SEED orders over $100.00 ship free!

Custom seed mixes or discounted seed sales over $100, add 5% of the total seed cost
(for orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required)

BARE ROOT and POTTED PLANTS $50.00 and under: $9.00
over $50.00: 18% of the total plant cost. (For orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required.)

TOOLS and BOOKS have the shipping fee included in the cost of the product (within the contiguous US).

**We are required to collect state sales tax in certain states. Your state's eligibility and % will be calculated at checkout. MN State Sales Tax of 7.375% is applied for orders picked up at our MN location. Shipping & handling charges are also subject to the sales tax.

Shipping Season

SEED, TOOLS and BOOKS are sent year-round. Most orders ship within 1-3 business days.

BARE ROOT PLANTS are shipped during optimal transplanting time: Spring (April-May) and Fall (Oct). Some ephemeral species are also available for summer shipping. Since our plants are field-grown, Nature sets the schedule each year as to when our season will begin and end. We fill all orders, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to the best of our ability depending on weather conditions beyond our control.

POTTED PLANTS (Trays of 32/38/50 plugs and 3-packs) typically begin shipping early May and go into June; shipping time is heavily dependent on all the species in your order being well-rooted. If winter-spring greenhouse growing conditions are favorable and all species are well-rooted at once, then we ship by order date (first come, first serve). We are a Midwest greenhouse, and due to the challenges of getting all the species in the Mix & Match and Pre-Designed Garden Kits transit-ready at the same time, we typically can't ship before early May. Earlier shipment requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

*We are unable to ship PLANTS (bare root or potted) outside the contiguous US or to CALIFORNIA due to regulations.

Delivery

We ship using USPS, UPS and Spee Dee. UPS and Spee Dee are often used for expediting plant orders; they will not deliver to Post Office Box numbers, so please also include your street address if ordering plants. We send tracking numbers to your email address so please include it when you order.

FOR MORE DETAILED SHIPPING INFORMATION, INCLUDING CANADA SHIPPING RATES (SEED ONLY), PLEASE SEE 'SHIPPING' AT THE FOOTER OF THIS WEBSITE.

Details

Seeds/Packet
1,000
Seeds/Ounce
200,000
Germination Code
C(60)
D
Life Cycle
Perennial
Sun Exposure
Full, Partial, Shade
Soil Moisture
Medium, Medium-Dry
Height
6 feet
Bloom Time
July, August, September, October
Bloom Color
Red, Green
Advantages
Pollinator Favorite: butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, beetles
Bird Favorite: seeds, insects, fruit, nectar, nesting, perch
Deer Resistant
USDA Zones
4-8
Plant Spacing
2-3'
Catalog Code
SCR04F