Eastern Figwort

Scrophularia marilandica

Pollinator Value

🐛 Larval Host: Elaphria chalcedonia, Euphydryas phaeton
S13+S15 2 verified Eastern NA

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ✅ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Globally secure (G5) with a Canadian national rank of N4. Apparently Secure (S4) in Ontario but Unrankable (SU) in Quebec, where only 2 herbarium specimens and 1 GBIF preserved specimen are documented. Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. The species appears uncommon to rare in New England states (S1 in Rhode Island, S3 in Vermont, SX in Maine).
S22 G5, N4, S4-ON, SU-QC; S26 not SARA listed; S61 New England S-ranks
Rarity Ranks: QC SU – Unrankable, ON S4 – Apparently Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: Occurs in rich mesic deciduous woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, and shaded floodplain edges. In Michigan, associates with Boehmeria cylindrica, Carpinus caroliniana, Laportea canadensis, and Quercus muehlenbergii on wooded terraces. Tolerates minor to moderate disturbance and colonizes forest fragments and fence rows overgrown with trees.
S10 mesic deciduous woodlands; S7 river bank thickets, floodplains, forest borders; S4 rich woods and thickets

Roles: Fortress/Barrier, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 5 bee associations (threshold=3)]
Notes: Listed as a woodland garden companion in OWSL alongside shade-tolerant native forbs and grasses. Pairs well with white wood aster, zigzag goldenrod, and heart-leaved aster in mesic deciduous understory plantings. Its tall stature and late-season bloom complement spring and early-summer flowering companions.
S3 woodland garden companions; S29 woodland garden dappled shade

Category: Alterative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Tonic, Vermifuge, Vulnerary
S29 PFAF medicinal properties; S28 Iroquois gynecological aid, Meskwaki drug
Notes: Iroquois used a root infusion for women weakened by irregular menses. Meskwaki used roots as general medicine. PFAF reports properties similar to S. nodosa: the whole plant is alterative, diaphoretic, and vulnerary. A root tea is diuretic, emmenagogue, and tonic, used for irregular menses, fevers, and piles. Health Canada lists it as an approved herbal ingredient (NHP).
S28 Iroquois + Meskwaki uses; S29 PFAF medicinal details; S36 NHPID approved

❌ Not Edible

Foraging Notes: No edible uses are documented. PFAF rates edibility at 0/5 and lists edible uses as 'None known'. Moerman records only medicinal (Drug) uses by Iroquois and Meskwaki, with no food category entries.
S29 edibility 0/5; S28 Drug category only