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Agrimonia gryposepala

tall hairy agrimony

Rosaceae North America

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 3–8

Overview

Agrimonia gryposepala is an upright herbaceous perennial in the rose family, growing 1.5-5 feet (45-150 cm) tall on hairy, often glandular stems from a stout rootstock. The pinnately compound leaves carry 5-9 large, coarsely toothed leaflets 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long with smaller leaflets set between them along the stalk. Through summer a long, slender spike rises from the stem tip, lined with small five-petaled yellow flowers about 0.3 inch (8 mm) across that open from the bottom upward. As the flowers fade, the cup beneath each forms a top-shaped fruit ringed with hooked bristles that catch on fur and clothing, carrying the seed away. The plant grows in moist woods, thickets, woodland edges, and roadsides on rich soil and tolerates both sun and partial shade. It dies back to the rootstock each winter and returns in spring. The clinging burrs spread it widely and can be a nuisance on clothing. In dry or deeply shaded sites it grows shorter and flowers less.

Native Range

Agrimonia gryposepala is native across much of North America, from southern Canada through most of the United States. It grows in moist woods, thickets, woodland borders, fencerows, and roadsides on rich, damp soils.

Suggested Uses

Tall hairy agrimony is used in native plant gardens, woodland edges, and naturalized moist plantings for its summer flower spikes. It suits informal or restoration settings rather than tidy borders, given its self-sowing burrs. Its flowers serve as a nectar source for bees and other small pollinators.

How to Identify

The compound leaves have 5-9 large, coarsely toothed leaflets with smaller leaflets set between them along the stalk. A long, slender spike of small yellow five-petaled flowers about 0.3 inch (8 mm) wide opens through summer. The top-shaped fruits are ringed with hooked bristles and a deep groove, clinging to fur and clothing, which separates it from related agrimonies by the detail of the fruit and glandular hairs.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1'6" - 5'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Summer

Flowering occurs in summer, generally June through August, on slender terminal spikes. The small yellow flowers open from the base of the spike upward over several weeks and draw bees and other small insects. Hooked fruits ripen afterward and cling to passing animals.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 3-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay silt

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Tall hairy agrimony grows in full sun to partial shade on moist, rich loam, clay, or silty soils along woods and edges. It prefers steady soil moisture and tolerates some dryness once established, though growth is shorter in dry shade. Soils from acidic to neutral, around pH 5.5-7.5, suit it. The plant is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8 and dies back to the rootstock each winter. It self-sows by hooked burrs that cling to animals and clothing, which can spread it beyond its intended spot. It needs little care in suitable moist ground.

Pruning

Flowering and fruiting stems can be cut back after bloom to limit the spread of clinging burrs by seed. Stems can also be cut to the ground after frost. No other pruning is needed to keep the clump healthy.