The Figwort, a member of the snapdragon family, bears small, brown flowers arranged in upright, open clusters. While these flowers may not boast striking beauty, their intriguing appearance and nectar-filled blooms attract a diverse array of insects. Scrophularia marilandica, characterized by its upright, square-stemmed habit, branches extensively and typically reaches heights of 5-10 feet. This perennial species is indigenous to open woods and roadsides spanning from Quebec to Ontario to Minnesota, southward to Florida and Texas. It thrives in rich, moist woodlands, ravines, thickets, and woodland margins. Its diminutive, greenish-purple tubular flowers, measuring 1/4 inch in length, feature reddish-brown interiors and bloom in loose, terminal, pyramidal panicles during the summer months (July to September), each reaching up to 12 inches in height. The plant's leaves are ovate to lanceolate, dull green, and range from 4 to 6 inches in length and up to 3 inches in width, with serrated margins. Its fruit takes the form of an ovoid capsule. Optimal growth conditions include moist, well-drained soils in areas of full sun to partial shade, with a preference for partial shade. It thrives particularly well in sandy loams and is suited to woodland garden environments. Maryland Figwort is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 7.