Scrophularia marilandica (Late Figwort)

Late Figwort has a very high amount of nectar. According to the Xerces Society, “Figworts are amongst the most prolific nectar producers in the plant world.” Back in the 1880s, late figwort was known as Simpson’s honey plant and was often planted by beekeepers specifically for honey production. The Xerces Society adds, “Beekeepers claimed a single acre could produce 400 to 800 pounds of honey that was prized for being light, clear, and aroma-free.” The figworts attract not only honey bees but a wide variety of pollinators including native bees, flies, solitary wasps, hummingbirds, and butterflies. These perennial plants like the sun but will tolerate up to 70% shade, and they will thrive even in wet soils. Their form is airy, delicate and understated, yet tall and structural creating an architectural focal point.