# figworts (*Scrophularia*)

Figworts are tall plants with lovely green leaves and small flowers. They often grow in damp places and are important for helping other plants and animals thrive in nature.

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

![figworts](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Scrophularia_nodosa8.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Kurt Stüber \[1\], CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scrophularia_nodosa8.jpg)

## Appearance

The figworts has distinct square stems and small, often reddish-brown or greenish-purple flowers with an unusual, somewhat hooded shape. Its leaves are typically oval with serrated edges, forming a bushy plant. This unique combination makes it visually different from many common wildflowers.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Lamiales
- **Family:** Scrophulariaceae
- **Genus:** Scrophularia

## Interesting facts

- Its name 'figwort' comes from an ancient belief it could cure a skin disease.
- Its unique flowers are sometimes called 'helmet flowers' or 'carpenter's square'.
- Many figwort species attract surprising pollinators, like wasps, not just typical bees!
- Some figworts can thrive in very poor soil, showing their incredible toughness!

## Special abilities

- **Hidden Nectar Trails:** Its flowers feature hidden nectar guides (patterns visible under UV light) that help direct specific insect pollinators.
- **Pollinator Magnet Scent:** Some figwort species produce a slightly musty scent, which specifically attracts wasps for effective pollination.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 40-100 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Figwort Moth (*Cucullia scrophulariae*) — Its caterpillars feed specifically on the leaves.
- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from the flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Efficiently visits the unique flowers for nectar.

## Traits

- [Herbaceous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbaceous): Herbaceous plants are non-woody plants with soft stems that typically die back to the ground at the end of the growing season.
- [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.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [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.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [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.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.
- [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify figworts?

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 figworts?

40-100 cm

### How wide does figworts spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on figworts?

0.5-1.5 cm

### When does figworts bloom?

Summer

### Is figworts edible?

No

### Is figworts toxic?

Mild

### What is figworts's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Wangeliner Garten](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wangeliner-garten) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Park
- [Hyner View State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hyner-view-state-park) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park

## 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*)

---

Source: [Figworts: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/figworts)