Scrophularia auriculata

RHS Plant Profile
water figwort

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Other common names

bishop's leaves, brook betony, brownwort, fiddlewood, stinking Christopher, water betony

Synonyms

Scrophularia aquatica misapplied
Scrophularia balbisii Hornem.

Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial Bogs
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A hardy, robust, perennial with square stems and oval, wrinkled dark green leaves to a height of 90cm. Small yellow-green flowers with a reddish-brown upper lip are borne in bunches from early summer to early autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Poorly–drained or Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Scrophulariaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Scrophularia can be herbaceous perennials or sub-shrubs, with broad leaves in pairs on square stems, and small 2-lipped flowers in loose terminal clusters
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Eurasia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in permanently damp soil in a bog garden or wildlife garden in partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed or division in spring or autumn. For more information, see Division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens

Pruning

Cut back all old growth to ground level at the end of the growing season

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, caterpillars and figwort weevils

Diseases

Generally disease-free