Slender-leaved false foxglove is an annual wildflower in the figwort family (Orobanchaceae) native to the United States and Canada, found in sunny areas in wet woodlands, thickets, meadows, along coastal shores, and in disturbed areas. 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. Plant it in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained sandy or loamy soil, though it withstands rocky soils. The plant grows 1 to 2 feet tall and half as wide, self-seeding easily, to naturalize in the landscape. The showy bell-shaped flowers are purplish to pink with a lighter spotted throat and appear late summer into fall. This plant is reported to be partially parasitic when certain grasses are present. Use this plant in naturalized areas or along ponds or bogs to provide late-season color for native or pollinator gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. This plant may be challenging to grow in a cultivated landscape.
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)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 7 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Simple, linear, 3/4 to 2 inches long 1/8 inch wide with entire margins and large midrib vein. In dry conditions leaves may take on a purple -red hue.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Bell; Funnel
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Single purple to 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. Individual flowers are 1/2 to 3/4 inch across.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
1/4" shiny globular capsule with wind dispersed seeds.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Angled stems with narrow ridges, green but can turn purple-red in drought, smooth to the touch.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Canada, Central and Eastern North America
Distribution
AL , AR , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV , WY Canada: MB , NB , ON , QC
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.