Scrophularia atrata

Identification

Gallery

Description

Scrophularia atrata, Bumble Bee Plant, is a two to four foot perennial with three foot spikes of maroon 1/4-1/2" flowers that seems to be the place to be if you're a bumble bee or a butterfly. (Bumble bees do not bother with us mere mortals, they go right to the flowers). We've sat a few feet away and watched them bumble their way into the flower. The Chalcedon Checkerspot lives on this species and sequesters Iridoid glycosides from the plant, making the larvae poisonous and adults unpalatable. So, unless you're a butterfly, do not eat this plant. Black figwort looks woodsy. Suitable for a shady woodland garden, or open, sunny coastal garden, out of the wind. We've seen this on a north slope in Arroyo Grande in oil sand, in Lompoc in open beach sand and in Avila in horrible sand on hard pan. Rainfall is about 18"/year. A rare plant that is native from Avila to Lompoc. Beautiful, unusual flowers.