Scrophularia californica (California beeplant)

Gordon Leppig & Andrea J. Pickart, no rights reserved (CC0) · Wikimedia Commons

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Scrophularia californica

California beeplant

Scrophulariaceae western United States

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Attracts Hummingbirds Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 7–10

Overview

Scrophularia californica, California beeplant or California figwort, is a herbaceous perennial in the figwort family native to the western United States. It grows 3-5 feet (90-150 cm) tall on square, upright stems rising from a woody base, forming a clump 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) wide. The triangular leaves are 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long, coarsely toothed, and arranged in opposite pairs. From late winter into summer it carries open, branching clusters of many small flowers, each a rounded maroon to red-brown urn about 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) long with a nearly closed mouth. The flowers hold abundant nectar and draw large numbers of bees, wasps, and hummingbirds, which is the source of the common name. Dry seed capsules follow and turn brown as they ripen. The plant grows in coastal scrub, chaparral, and the edges of woodland and streams, tolerating drought once established but staying greener with some moisture. Foliage dies back in winter in colder areas. The small dark flowers give little visual color, so the plant is grown more for its value to pollinators than for floral show.

Native Range

Native to the western United States, chiefly California and southern Oregon, with a coastal form and an interior form. It grows in coastal scrub, chaparral, oak woodland, and along streambanks from sea level into the foothills.

Suggested Uses

Grown in native, pollinator, and habitat gardens, on dry banks, and in the middle of borders where its nectar draws bees and hummingbirds. Suited to coastal scrub and woodland-edge plantings.

How to Identify

Identified by tall square stems, opposite triangular toothed leaves, and branching sprays of small maroon, urn-shaped flowers with a pinched opening. The figwort flower shape and square stems separate it from mints, which are aromatic, and the reddish flowers distinguish it from the yellow-green figworts of other regions.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 5'

Width/Spread2' - 3'

Colors

Flower Colors

red

maroon

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Winter Spring Summer

Flowers open over a long season from February to June, and sometimes later on the coast. A single plant can be in bloom for two to three months as new flowers form along the branched clusters. Brown seed capsules follow through summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

maroon to red-brown

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 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 Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to partial shade on well-drained loam, clay, or sandy soils. It tolerates summer drought once established but holds its foliage longer with occasional water. Propagation is by seed, which needs light to germinate, or by division of the crown in fall or winter. Plants spread slowly and can be cut to the ground after bloom to tidy the clump. Few pests trouble it, and deer tend to leave it alone. Wet, poorly drained soil in winter can rot the crown.

Pruning

Cut spent flowering stems back after seed set, or to the ground in late fall, to keep the clump neat. New shoots emerge from the base in late winter. Light cutting back during bloom extends flowering.

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic