swamp agrimony

Agrimonia parviflora

Swamp agrimony is a tall plant with pretty yellow flowers that grow in wet areas. It loves to be near water and can often be found in marshes and swamps.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The swamp agrimony has tall, slender spikes adorned with many small, bright yellow, five-petaled flowers. Its stems and leaves are covered in fine hairs, and the leaves are deeply cut with a mix of large and small leaflets, giving it a somewhat fern-like appearance that differentiates it from simpler-leaved wetland plants.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyRosaceaeGenusAgrimonia

swamp agrimony

Interesting facts

Despite its small flowers, swamp agrimony is a wild member of the mighty rose family, sharing relatives like apples!

For centuries, different agrimony species were used to make herbal teas, believed to help with various ailments!

Swamp agrimony's tiny seeds can stay hidden in the soil for years, waiting for the perfect wet conditions to sprout!

The name 'Agrimonia' comes from a Greek word meaning 'field remedy,' hinting at its ancient medicinal uses.

Special abilities

Swamp agrimony has tiny, hooked bristles on its fruit that allow its seeds to hitch a ride on animal fur, spreading them far and wide.

This plant can thrive in very wet soil thanks to its tough rhizomes, which help it anchor firmly and store energy underground.

Its stems and leaves are covered in fine hairs, which can help protect it from hungry herbivores and reduce water loss.

Measurements & details

Height: 30-150 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

common eastern bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

visits flowers for nectar

eaten by

white-tailed deer

Odocoileus virginianus

may browse on leaves and stems

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Medicinal

Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.

Edible

Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Rapid Growing

Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

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.