S mooth false foxglove is a perennial flowering plant in the broomrape family (Orobanchaceae) native to the mountains of the southeastern United States. In North Carolina, it is found growing in the mountains, occasionally in the Piedmont and rarely in the coastal plain in upland oak and oak-hickory forests, along streams and rocky slopes. This plant is semi-parasitic on the roots of oak trees and has a sprawling to semi-erect growth habit that can resemble a vine and can grow 2 to 6 feet tall. It prefers mesic to semi-mesic well-drained rocky to sandy soils in partial shade. It does not do well in rich soils, so avoid fertilizing this plant. The bright yellow bell-shaped flowers appear at the top of a tall stem in August to September. The leaves have entire margins, which differentiate them from other species. Use this plant in a woodland garden with the best results occurring near an oak tree. It can be utilized in a rock garden, a drought-tolerant garden and a pollinator garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids, spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects can occur. Fungal diseases like powdery mildew and leaf spot can also affect the plant. Root rot can occur, especially in poorly drained soils.
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.
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed; Undulate
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Smooth shiny narrowly lanceolate green leaves with short petioles and entire to wavy margins mostly without lobes.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower shape
Bell; Lipped; Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
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
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Hairy oval capsules split when mature to release seeds.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Simple or sparingly branched, smooth green stem
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern U.S.A primarily in the mountains
Distribution
AL , GA , KY , MD , MS , NC , OH , PA , SC , TN , VA , WV
Wildlife value
Flowers attract bees and hummingbirds.
Attracts
Bees; Hummingbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Native Garden; Rock Garden