Late Figwort (Scrophularia marilandica)

Late figwort reaches 4 to 6 feet in height. A specialist of woodland edges and thickets, it thrives in part shade to full sun and prefers moist, loamy soils, where it often acts as a towering backdrop to smaller forest plants. In a garden, it is legendary for its wildlife value; its tiny, cup like reddish brown flowers produce an extraordinary amount of high sugar nectar, making it a magnet for hummingbirds, native bees, and specialized wasps. It also serves as a host plant for the common buckeye butterfly.