When does Agalinis tenuifolia bloom?

Agalinis tenuifolia typically flowers from July through September, producing small pink to lavender tubular blooms along its slender stems.

What growing conditions does slender false foxglove need?

This forb does best in full sun with low to medium water, tolerating dry to moderately moist, well drained soils in open grassy or sandy sites.

What pollinators visit Agalinis tenuifolia?

Bees and butterflies are the primary visitors to Agalinis tenuifolia, drawn to its tubular pink flowers during its summer bloom period.

Is Agalinis tenuifolia easy to grow in a home garden?

It can be tricky to establish because it is a hemiparasitic annual that often grows best near grass roots, so gardeners have more success sowing it into an existing meadow or prairie planting rather than a cultivated bed.

Is Slender False Foxglove HOA-friendly?

Slender 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.

Slender False Foxglove

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Agalinis tenuifolia

Last reviewed: August 2026

Agalinis tenuifolia, or slender false foxglove, is an annual forb that blooms July through September with small pink tubular flowers. It thrives in full sun and well drained to dry soils in prairies, meadows, and open fields.

Toxicity unknown

Slender False Foxglove (Agalinis tenuifolia) 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

low

Size

8"–24" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, CO, CT and 36 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

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Slender false foxglove is a delicate annual wildflower with small pink to purple tubular blooms from July through September. This compact native plant grows 8-24 inches tall with narrow leaves and produces cheerful flowers that attract pollinators during late summer.

Growing Slender False Foxglove

Grow Slender False Foxglove in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 8 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

Slender 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 nature creates gaps in plantings
Can appear weedy or sparse
Informal wildflower appearance doesn't suit formal landscapes

Wildlife value

The tubular flowers are particularly valuable for bees and butterflies during the late summer blooming period when many other native flowers have finished.

Common questions

When does Agalinis tenuifolia bloom?: Agalinis tenuifolia typically flowers from July through September, producing small pink to lavender tubular blooms along its slender stems.
What growing conditions does slender false foxglove need?: This forb does best in full sun with low to medium water, tolerating dry to moderately moist, well drained soils in open grassy or sandy sites.
What pollinators visit Agalinis tenuifolia?: Bees and butterflies are the primary visitors to Agalinis tenuifolia, drawn to its tubular pink flowers during its summer bloom period.
Is Agalinis tenuifolia easy to grow in a home garden?: It can be tricky to establish because it is a hemiparasitic annual that often grows best near grass roots, so gardeners have more success sowing it into an existing meadow or prairie planting rather than a cultivated bed.
Is Slender False Foxglove HOA-friendly?: Slender 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

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