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Purple False Foxglove

Agalinis purpurea

Last reviewed: August 2026

Agalinis purpurea is an annual forb with pink to purple tubular flowers that bloom from July through October in sunny, moist meadows, prairies, and roadside ditches.

Purple False Foxglove (Agalinis purpurea)
Photo: Robert H. Mohlenbrock. USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. Midwest National Technical Center, Lincoln. Courtesy of USDA NRCS Wetland Science Institute. / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Toxicity unknown

Purple False Foxglove (Agalinis purpurea) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

12"–24" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 30 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, moths

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Cross TimbersSouth Central PlainsOzark HighlandsGreat PlainsPiedmontWestern Corn Belt PlainsNorthern ForestsNorthern Lakes and ForestsNorth Central Hardwood ForestsDriftless AreaSoutheastern Wisconsin Till PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsHuron/Erie Lake PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsBlue RidgeRidge and ValleyEastern Temperate ForestsInterior PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsMississippi Alluvial PlainSouthern Coastal PlainSouthern Florida Coastal PlainAcadian Plains and HillsEastern Great Lakes LowlandsAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Purple false foxglove produces delicate pink-purple tubular flowers from summer through fall on slender upright stems. This annual wildflower has a graceful, airy appearance and naturally reseeds in suitable conditions.

Growing Purple False Foxglove

Grow Purple False Foxglove in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Purple False Foxglove takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Annual plant dies completely each year
  • Can appear sparse or weedy in structure
  • Unpredictable reseeding may create patchy appearance

Wildlife value

The tubular flowers are particularly attractive to native bees and provide nectar for butterflies and moths during the late summer and fall blooming period.

Common questions

When does Agalinis purpurea bloom?
Agalinis purpurea blooms from July through October, producing small tubular pink to purple flowers along its stems.
What pollinators visit Agalinis purpurea?
Bees, butterflies, and moths visit the tubular flowers of Agalinis purpurea for nectar during its summer and fall bloom period.
What growing conditions does Agalinis purpurea need?
This forb grows best in full sun with medium moisture, often found in wet meadows, open prairies, and along roadside ditches with sandy or loamy soil.
Is Agalinis purpurea an annual or a perennial?
Agalinis purpurea is an annual forb that completes its life cycle in a single growing season and is hemiparasitic, drawing some nutrients from the roots of nearby grasses.
Is Purple False Foxglove HOA-friendly?
Purple False Foxglove takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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