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Native Plant Society of Texas

Prairie False Foxglove

Agalinis heterophylla

Other common name(s):

Prairie Agalinis

Family:

Orobanchaceae (Broomrape Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1
to
3
ft.

Spread

1
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Annual

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Rocky, Moist

Light Requirement

Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Pink, Purple

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Forage, Nectar, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Browsers, Butterflies, Bees

Maintenance

Easy maintenance. Grows in a variety of soils. Drought tolerant but does best with weekly watering, preferring environments that mimic the intermittent rainfall of its natural habitat. It may go dormant during hot, dry weather. Native habitat: prairies and woodland edges. It’s name means “grass killer”, as it can shadow and suppress lower growing grasses. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms June-October. Stems erect, with numerous, spreading to ascending branches. The stems turn black in the fall. Leaves are linear to lance-shaped, the lower leaves sometimes deeply 3-lobed. The tubular flower is light pink to purple, with spotted throat, and prominent lobes. The fruit a capsule. Larval host: Buckeye Butterfly.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Gerardia heterophylla

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Place seeds superficially, as they require sufficient light to sprout successfully. Once seedlings establish, transplant them carefully to avoid root disturbance. Ensure to use well-draining soil, providing adequate warmth and moisture to encourage germination. https://www.picturethisai.com/care/Agalinis_heterophylla.html#:~:text=More%20Info%20on%20Prairie%20false,Keep%20authenticity%20in%20nature's%20blueprint.

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason