# common agrimony (*Agrimonia eupatoria*)

Common agrimony is a tall, yellow-flowered plant that grows in fields and meadows. It has fuzzy leaves and can be found in many places, making it a friendly sight for nature lovers.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![common agrimony](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Agrimonia_eupatoria_inflorescence.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Agrimonia_eupatoria_inflorescence.jpg)

## Appearance

The common agrimony has tall, slender spikes of bright yellow, five-petaled flowers. Its deeply toothed, grey-green leaves are arranged in an alternating pattern along the stem, often with smaller leaflets between the main ones, giving it a distinct feathery look.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Rosales
- **Family:** Rosaceae
- **Genus:** Agrimonia

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Romans cultivated agrimony for its supposed healing powers.
- It's nicknamed 'church steeples' because of its tall, spire-like flower stalks.
- People once used agrimony leaves and flowers to make a bright yellow dye.
- This plant smells like ripe apricots when its leaves are crushed!

## Special abilities

- **Sticky Traveler:** Common agrimony has tiny, hooked bristles that help its seeds cling to animal fur or clothes, spreading them far and wide.
- **Sunshine Sensor:** Common agrimony has bright yellow flowers that turn to face the sun, helping pollinators spot them from a distance.
- **Nature's Brew:** Common agrimony contains compounds used in traditional remedies, giving it natural beneficial properties and defenses.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-100 cm
- **Spread:** 20-40 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to early fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — visits flowers for nectar
- **Eaten by:** [Roe deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roe-deer) (*Capreolus capreolus*) — grazes on leaves and stems

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before touching or tasting any plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify common agrimony?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is common agrimony?

30-100 cm

### How wide does common agrimony spread?

20-40 cm

### How big are the flowers on common agrimony?

0.5-1 cm

### When does common agrimony bloom?

Summer to early fall

### Is common agrimony edible?

Yes

### Is common agrimony toxic?

None

### What is common agrimony's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Common Agrimony: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-agrimony)