A.k.a Canadian lousewort. A short, hemiparasitic plant with unique flowers! A spring grower/bloomer, but leaves may stay green through the summer. Spring new growth may initially be red or brown, but will change to green as it matures. Prefers well drained, slightly acidic soil that contains loam but is reasonably adaptable- as evidenced by its wide range. May reseed to form a colony in ideal conditions, and a colony in bloom is head-turning!

While capable of photosynthesizing and growing alone, wood betony will parasitize surrounding plants. Grasses seem to be its preferred host, but it may also host on native trees- particularly oaks in the oak savannas where it often occurs in the wild. While unlikely to have an observable effect on trees, parasitized grasses tend to be shorter and smaller than they would otherwise. This promotes biodiversity in prairies and is often a welcome change in native beds! Parasitized grasses are not usually killed, but it is possible if wood betony are plentiful.

Light: Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade

Soil Moisture: Wet Mesic, Mesic, Dry Mesic, Dry

Soil Type: Loamy, Sandy

Height: 6”-12”

Bloom Color: Yellow

Bloom Time: Apr-May

Root Type: Taproot

Notable Wildlife Interactions: Flowers attract a few species of bee, including bumblebees and mason bees.

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