# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![swamp agrimony](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Agrimonia_parviflora.jpg&width=800) Photo: Robert H. Mohlenbrock. USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. Midwest National Technical Ce, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Agrimonia_parviflora.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Agrimonia ## 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 - **Sticky Traveler:** 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. - **Wetland Resilience:** This plant can thrive in very wet soil thanks to its tough rhizomes, which help it anchor firmly and store energy underground. - **Hairy Shield:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — may browse on leaves and stems ## Traits - [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. - [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. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [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. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always explore plants with an adult to make sure they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify swamp 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 swamp agrimony? 30-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on swamp agrimony? 0.5-1 cm ### When does swamp agrimony bloom? Summer to early fall ### Is swamp agrimony edible? Yes ### Is swamp agrimony toxic? None ### What is swamp agrimony's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is swamp agrimony pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Meadowlark Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/meadowlark-botanical-gardens) — Virginia, US · Botanical Garden ## 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: [Swamp Agrimony: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/swamp-agrimony)