Scrophularia peregrina
Mediterranean figwort
(c) Yves Bas, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Scrophulariaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Scrophularia peregrina (Mediterranean figwort) is a non-native California herb in the Scrophulariaceae family, recognized by unique annual habit and axillary flowers diagnostic.
Mediterranean figwort is a naturalized annual found in southern California coastal areas, specifically in disturbed areas near Claremont and Los Angeles County at elevations around 400 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces dark red to purple-brown flowers with a slightly constricted mouth, clustered in small groups of one to five blooms in leaf axils. Growing with erect stems 15 to 60 centimeters tall, occasionally without hair and featuring green stems. Its leaves are dark to light green, with larger blades measuring 3 to 5 centimeters long, arranged along the stem. The plant's distinctive flowers have small green lanceolate calyx lobes and a unique staminode with an obovate to round tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; unique annual habit and axillary flowers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: +- 400 m.
Outside California: native to +- Mediterranean region
Bloom period
Scrophularia peregrina blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Blitum: Scrophularia has bilateral flowers with petals; Blitum has tiny flowers without petals.; vs Urtica: Scrophularia has showy bilateral flowers; Urtica has stinging hairs and tiny greenish flowers.; vs Stachys: Scrophularia has urn-shaped flowers in branched clusters; Stachys has flowers in dense whorled spikes.; vs Hesperocnide: Scrophularia has bilateral tubular flowers; Hesperocnide has tiny greenish flowers without petals.; vs Melissa: Scrophularia has greenish to dark red flowers; Melissa has white to pale pink flowers and lemon scent.
Frequently asked questions
Is Scrophularia peregrina native to California?
No. Scrophularia peregrina is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Scrophularia peregrina bloom?
Scrophularia peregrina blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Scrophularia peregrina belong to?
Scrophularia peregrina is in the Scrophulariaceae family, genus Scrophularia.
What habitat does Scrophularia peregrina grow in?
Scrophularia peregrina grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Scrophularia sp. — Figwort
- Scrophularia villosa — Santa catalina figwort
- Scrophularia atrata — Black-flowered figwort
- Scrophularia californica — California figwort
- Scrophularia desertorum — Desert figwort
- Scrophularia lanceolata — Lanceleaf figwort
- Scrophulariaceae sp. — Figwort family
- Verbascum blattaria — Moth mullein
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.