General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 8b
Plant Height: 8 to 12 inches
Leaves: Semi-evergreen
Fruit: Dehiscent
Other: 1/2 inch long, angular capsule containing numerous small seeds.
Fruiting Time: Late spring or early summer
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Yellow
Bi-Color: Yellow and reddish-purple
Other: Yellow is the most frequent flower color but flowers may be reddish-purple, or bi-color.
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Pollinators: Bumblebees

Image
Common names
  • Common Lousewort
  • Lousewort
  • Canadian Lousewort
  • Wood Betony

Photo Gallery
Location: State park Illinois zone 6
Date: 2022-05-07
Location: State park Illinois zone 6
Date: 2022-05-07

Date: c. 1824
illustration by J. Curtis from 'Curtis's Botanical Magazine', 182

Date: c. 1879
illustration from Meehan's 'The Native Flowers and Ferns of the U

Photo courtesy of: Tom Potterfield
Comments:
  • Posted by gardengus (Indiana Zone 5b) on May 9, 2022 5:32 PM concerning plant:
    Interesting plant, a perennial, native to Canada, Mexico, and the US. A hemiparasite, that blooms in April-June, flowers from the bottom up.
  • Posted by mellielong (Lutz, Florida - Zone 9b) on Apr 23, 2015 12:26 PM concerning plant:
    The book "How to Know the Wildflowers" (1922) by Mrs. William Starr Dana says the bright flowers of Wood Betony are found in the May woods alongside Columbine and Yellow Violet. Near Philadelphia they are said to be among the earliest flowers, coming soon after the trailing arbutus. Later in the year, the plant attracts attention "by its uncouth spikes of brown seed-pods."

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