Common Figwort (Though appearing as a tall herbaceous plant, it mimics tree-like verticality in meadow structures)
Scrophularia nodosa · Herbaceous perennial (Non-woody, though grows with a tall, erect, stiff structure)
Plant Family
Scrophulariaceae
Tree Category
Wildflower / Herbaceous Meadow Plant
Variety / Cultivar
Standard species
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4 through 8
About This Tree
An upright, square-stemmed plant reaching up to 1.5 meters. It has a stiff, architectural form with opposite branching and small, inconspicuous brownish-purple flowers arranged in terminal panicles.
Leaf Characteristics
Opposite, ovate to heart-shaped, acutely pointed at the tip, with sharply serrated margins. Texture is smooth and color is medium green.
Bark Characteristics
Lacks true bark; stems are distinctly four-angled (square), glabrous (smooth), and green to reddish-purple in color.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa; adapted to moist woodlands and ditches.
Growing Season
Emerges in spring; flowers from June to September; seeds ripen in late summer; dies back to tuberous roots in winter.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Partial shade to full sun; prefers moist to damp soils, often found near water or in damp woodland margins.
Mature Size
Height: 3–5 feet (0.9–1.5m); Spread: 1.5–2 feet; Growth rate: Fast; Lifespan: Perennial.
Special Characteristics
Features square stems and tuberous 'knotted' roots; historically used in folk medicine (scrofula). Known for being a high nectar producer.
Wildlife & Ecology
Exceptional value for pollinators; specifically adapted for pollination by wasps. Larval host for the Scrophularia moth. Seeds provide food for small birds.