Purple false foxglove is a native annual in the Figwort family (Orobanchaceae) native to Canada and the United States, including all areas of NC. It is found growing in moist woodland, around boggy areas, moist prairies and around lakes. This plant prefers sun to light shade in acidic, moist to wet, sandy or peaty well-drained soils. Purple false foxglove grows 1 to 4 feet tall and will spread 1 foot. The showy tubular pink or purple flowers are produced in abundance in late summer to fall and are visited by bees. It will reseed itself in the garden. Use in native gardens, naturalized or woodland areas. Plant in borders or groups along ponds, streams or bogs. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems More information on Agalinis .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Prostrate
Leaf color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Dark green leaves are linear and 1-3 inches long with a prominent midrib and entire margins. The upper side can feel rough and have a purple tint.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
1 inch wide single flowers on 1/4" stalks and long tubular flowers 1/2"-1" long with 5 spreading petals in pink and purple have a whitish throat with purple spots and fine hairs along the edges. The upper two lobes are often smaller and the bottom three curve up. Stamens and style are white. The five sepals are fused to form a calyx with sharp teeth. They bloom from August to October.
Bloom time
Fall
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Round capsules that split open on top and have numerous tiny seeds that are dispersed by the wind in September to November.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Dark green upright stems are angled, grooved, and hairless. They can be slightly rough feeling.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central Canada, central and eastern U.S.A., Cuba, Cayman Islands
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WI , WV Canada: ON
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.