Agalinis purpurea: Country Or Region Of Origin
Central Canada, central and eastern U.S.A., Cuba, Cayman Islands
Plant Profile: Agalinis purpurea
Taxonomy: Agalinis purpureaNames
Gerardia, Purple False Foxglove, Purple Gerardia, Slender False Foxglove
Phonetic Spelling:ag-uh-LY-nus pur-PUR-ee-uh
Genus:Agalinis
Species:purpurea
Family:Orobanchaceae
Purple Gerardia is an annual plant indigenous to woodlands, roadsides, and open spaces across Canada and the United States, thriving in all regions of North Carolina. Its striking pink or purple tubular flowers bloom profusely from late summer into fall, attracting bees. This species is self-seeding, making it a great addition to gardens.
This plant thrives in sunny to lightly shaded environments, preferring acidic, moist, sandy, or peaty soils. It can adapt to various soil types as long as they are well-drained. Purple Gerardia is ideal for use in native gardens, naturalized settings, or woodland areas.
For further details on Agalinis, please refer to additional resources.
Agalinis purpurea Feature Summary
Agalinis purpurea Image Gallery
Tags
#wildlife plant
#purple flowers
#pink flowers
#NC native
#native garden
#wind dispersed seeds
#native annual
#larval host plant
#food source fall
#food source herbage
#Coastal FACW
#Piedmont Mountains FACW
#butterfly friendly
#butterfly larvae
#pollinator garden
#audubon
#woodlands
#common buckeye butterfly
Similar Plants
Agalinis purpurea is often confused with:
Agalinis purpurea Feature Summary
Attributes
Central Canada, central and eastern U.S.A., Cuba, Cayman Islands
Members of the genus Agalinus support butterfly larvae and adults. Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) larvae appear from May to October and in the deep south they appear year-round. Common Buckeye adult butterflies feed on flower nectar. Members of the genus Agalinis support the following specialized bee: Anthophorula (Anthophorisca) micheneri, Leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.). Syrphid flies feed on pollen.
Annual
Fruit
Round capsules that split open on top and have numerous tiny seeds that are dispersed by the wind in September to November.
Capsule
Green
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Flowers
1 inch wide single flowers on 1/4" stalks and long tubular flowers 1/2"-1" long with 5 spreading petals in pink and purple have a whitish throat with purple spots and fine hairs along the edges. The upper two lobes are often smaller and the bottom three curve up. Stamens and style are white. The five sepals are fused to form a calyx with sharp teeth. They bloom from August to October.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Solitary
4-5 petals/rays
fused petals
Tubular
< 1 inch
Leaves
Dark green leaves are linear and 1-3 inches long with a prominent midrib and entire margins. The upper side can feel rough and have a purple tint.
Green
Purple/Lavender
Simple
Opposite
Linear
Entire
1-3 inches
Rough
Stem
Dark green upright stems are angled, grooved, and hairless. They can be slightly rough feeling.
Green
Angular
Smooth (glabrous)
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Native Garden
Border
Small groups
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Butterflies
Pollinators
Bees
Agalinis purpurea Image Gallery
Agalinis purpurea Attributes
Agalinis purpurea: Wildlife Value
Members of the genus Agalinus support butterfly larvae and adults. Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) larvae appear from May to October and in the deep south they appear year-round. Common Buckeye adult butterflies feed on flower nectar. Members of the genus Agalinis support the following specialized bee: Anthophorula (Anthophorisca) micheneri, Leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.). Syrphid flies feed on pollen.
Agalinis purpurea: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Agalinis purpurea Fruit
Agalinis purpurea: Fruit Description
Round capsules that split open on top and have numerous tiny seeds that are dispersed by the wind in September to November.
Agalinis purpurea: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Agalinis purpurea: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Green
Agalinis purpurea: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Agalinis purpurea Flowers
Agalinis purpurea: Flower Description
1 inch wide single flowers on 1/4" stalks and long tubular flowers 1/2"-1" long with 5 spreading petals in pink and purple have a whitish throat with purple spots and fine hairs along the edges. The upper two lobes are often smaller and the bottom three curve up. Stamens and style are white. The five sepals are fused to form a calyx with sharp teeth. They bloom from August to October.
Agalinis purpurea: Flower Color
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Agalinis purpurea: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Agalinis purpurea: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Agalinis purpurea: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Agalinis purpurea: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Agalinis purpurea: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Agalinis purpurea: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Agalinis purpurea Leaves
Agalinis purpurea: Leaf Description
Dark green leaves are linear and 1-3 inches long with a prominent midrib and entire margins. The upper side can feel rough and have a purple tint.
Agalinis purpurea: Leaf Color
Green
Purple/Lavender
Agalinis purpurea: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Agalinis purpurea: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Agalinis purpurea: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Agalinis purpurea: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Agalinis purpurea: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Agalinis purpurea: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Agalinis purpurea: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Agalinis purpurea Stem
Agalinis purpurea: Stem Description
Dark green upright stems are angled, grooved, and hairless. They can be slightly rough feeling.
Agalinis purpurea: Stem Color
Green
Agalinis purpurea: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Agalinis purpurea: Stem Cross Section
Angular
Oval
Round
Square
Agalinis purpurea: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Agalinis purpurea Whole Plant Traits
Agalinis purpurea: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Agalinis purpurea: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Agalinis purpurea: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Agalinis purpurea: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Agalinis purpurea Cultural Conditions
Agalinis purpurea: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Agalinis purpurea: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Agalinis purpurea: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Agalinis purpurea: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Agalinis purpurea: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Agalinis purpurea Landscape
Agalinis purpurea: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Agalinis purpurea: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Agalinis purpurea: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Agalinis purpurea: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
