Scrophularia marilandica (Figwort) Unity Grown

Scrophularia marilandica, commonly known as figwort or late figwort, is an upright, perennial wildflower with a lot of ecological benefit. Though summer and early fall flowers may not be very showy, they present an excellent food source to a number of late-season pollinators, butterflies, and even hummingbirds. Vertical flower spikes usually grow atop central stems to between five and six feet, but occasionally reach heights of 9-10' feet tall, and produce a number of small, tubular flowers in an airy array of orange and red.

Acrid plant tissues mean that figwort is resistant to deer browsing, and in the late fall, pollinated flowers turn to teardrop-shaped seed pods, which make an excellent snack for migrating birds. Figwort grows great in dappled shade and makes an excellent addition to woodland margins and woodland plantings in the home garden.