Fauna
Plant

Tall Hairy Agrimony

Agrimonia gryposepala

Also known as Tall Hairy Grooveburr, Hooked Agrimony, Tall Agrimony, Cockleburr

Tall hairy agrimony stands out in shaded woodlands with its wand-like spikes of small, five-petaled yellow flowers blooming progressively upward from mid to late summer. The foliage emits a pleasant spicy, citrusy scent when crushed, while glandular hairs coat the stem and compound leaves. As blooms fade, the plant produces distinctive top-shaped burs lined with hooked bristles that readily hitch rides on passing wildlife or hiker clothing.

PerennialWildflowerWoodland
Tall Hairy Agrimony reference
(c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay · cc-by
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPhotosynthetic (autotroph)
Predators
  • White-tailed Deer
  • Leaf-mining Flies
  • Various Aphids
ThreatsHabitat loss from suburban development, canopy closure, and displacement by invasive plants
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, forest edges, savannas, thickets, and shaded stream banks
Life spanPerennial (typically lives 3–10 years)
Classification
  1. OrderRosales
  2. FamilyRosaceae
  3. GenusAgrimonia
  4. SpeciesAgrimonia gryposepala
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Clothing Check: Inspect socks and trouser legs after brushing past late-season plants to remove clinging burs.
  • Crush for Scent: Gently rub a lower leaflet between your fingers to experience its pleasant aromatic scent.
  • Pollinator Watching: Look for small native bees, syrphid flies, and wasps visiting the yellow florets on sunny mornings.
Related species
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