The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: late figwort, carpenter's-square, eastern figwort, Maryland figwort

Family: Scrophulariaceae (figwort family)

Distribution: c. and e. North America

Life form: Herbaceous perennial

Comments: Late figwort is often found in open woods, thickets, or along streambanks and is an interesting summer-bloomer. It produces a foot-long panicle upon which tiny, tubular flowers bloom a few at a time from July to October. The flowers are greenish-purple and two-lipped with reddish brown interiors. As you may have suspected, there is another species called early figwort that is similar, but of course it blooms earlier in the year. While you may consider these flowers a bit weird, they are much appreciated by other creatures – both figworts have flowers that are abundant in nectar, excellent for attracting a number of butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Native Americans used the roots of this plant to brew a tea as a treatment for fevers and piles (i.e., hemorrhoids), as well as for use as a diuretic or tonic.