Agrimony (Agrimonia striata)

    

 Agrimony (Agrimonia striata)

Agrimony is a native, perennial wildflower of Wisconsin, rising one to three feet tall and blooming from late spring into late summer. Its bright yellow, five‑lobed flowers form narrow, upright clusters at the top of the stem, each only about a quarter inch long but produced in long succession. The plant’s compound leaves are easy to recognize—large, toothed leaflets near the base that become smaller as they climb the stem, giving the whole plant a layered, tapering look.

Ecologically, agrimony is a steady contributor to summer food webs. Its flowers provide nectar and pollen for a range of native bees, hoverflies, and small butterflies, while the plant’s foliage supports insects that in turn feed birds and other wildlife. The bristly seeds cling to fur and feathers, hitchhiking across the landscape and helping the species move through woodlands and meadows. You’ll find agrimony along woodland edges, shaded forests, and open meadows—places where dappled light and undisturbed soils allow it to anchor itself among other native plants.

Sources:

Freckmann Herbarium (UW–Stevens Point) — Agrimonia striata species account

Illinois Wildflowers — Agrimony (Agrimonia striata) profile

Minnesota Wildflowers — Agrimonia striata — Woodland Agrimony

USDA NRCS Plants Database — Agrimonia striata (Roadside Agrimony) species profile

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center — Agrimonia species overview

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