California figwort is a clumping perennial native to coastal California that grows 3-6 feet tall. It has attractive dark green, succulent leaves and square red stems. Small dark red flowers bloom from March to May, attracting hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. California figwort is useful in gardens for its foliage and as habitat, thriving in full sun to partial shade with regular water. It requires little management and can spread slowly with irrigation but is easy to control.

1. California Figwort (Bee Plant) – Scrophularia californica ssp. floribunda
(skrof-yu-LARE-ee-a ka-li-FOR-ni-ka flor-i-BUN-da)
Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort family)
Native to: Much of coastal CA from LA Co. to Canada. Also San Gabriel & western Sierra Nevadas;
usually in moist (but occasionally more dry) places in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodlands and
along roads. Fairly common.
Growth characteristics: clumping perennial mature height: 3-6 ft. mature width: 2-3 ft. Fast-
growing tall, upright perennial. Semi-deciduous in moister areas; dies back to ground in summer-dry
conditions. Leaves dark-green, succulent-looking, incised – very attractive. Square red stems.
Spreading.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms Mar.-May in S. Bay. Flowers small, dark red, distinctive in shape. Flowers are
interesting but not really showy. Fruit is a dry tulip-shaped capsule with small dark seeds.
Uses in the garden: Most useful for its attractive foliage and as a habitat plant for attracting native bees.
Good in an old-fashioned garden, cottage garden or mixed native bed. Fine in contained areas, large
containers, narrow borders. Dried flower stalks are interesting in floral arrangements. Takes regular
garden water and does well with others of like needs.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native foxgloves, Calceolaria, Torenia. Other perennial foliage plants.
Attracts: Excellent bird habitat: provides nectar for hummingbirds and seeds for food. Nectar attracts
many native pollinators including bees and butterflies. Caterpillar food for Common Checkerspot and
Buckeye.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to nearly full shade; does better with some shade in hot gardens.
Soil Any texture from sand to clay
Water Semi-dry (dies back quicker) to regular irrigation
Fertilizer None needed, but can stand a light fertilizer or (better) organic mulch
Other
Management: Little management needed; cut back after collecting seeds. Will spread with regular
watering, but easy to control.
Propagation: from seed: cold treatment may enhance germination. Plant winter-spring in pots or in
prepared beds. Barely cover the small seeds. by divisions: yes
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 2, 5, 8, 10-13, 16, 20, 24 1/29/17
© Project SOUND

2. Scrophularia californica
California beeplant (figwort)