Scrophularia ningpoensis

Scrophularia ningpoensis belongs to the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. This perennial lives for more than two years. Its native range runs from China to Vietnam. It grows in temperate zones and likes damp ground. Records place it in many east and central Chinese provinces. In the wild, it grows in gullies and thickets. It also grows along the banks of rivers and streams. Other sites include tall grasses and bamboo forests. These sites lie below about 4,920 feet [1,500 metres].

Plants reach about 3.3 feet [1 metre] tall. They spread about 1.3 feet [0.4 metres] wide. Kew calls it a perennial or a tuberous geophyte. The latter means it has swollen parts below ground. It blooms from June through October. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects move pollen from one flower to the next. Seeds ripen from September through November. This means seeds ripen while the last flowers still bloom. The supplied species records do not state the flower colour. They give no details of the leaves, either.

In gardens, this plant suits moist beds and bog gardens. Give it full sun or part shade. It grows in sand, loam, or clay. Soil can range from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. Damp soil matters more than the type of soil. The growing account notes success in wet ground, too. Plants cope with cold of at least 5°F [−15°C]. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 5–9. It is thus a choice for damp sites within that range.

Grow new plants from seed or split clumps once established. Sow seed in spring or autumn in a cold frame. Move each seedling to its own pot when large enough to handle. Plant them outside in summer. Split clumps in spring. Plant large pieces straight into their garden sites. Keep small pieces in pots in light shade until they take root. Then plant them in the garden in summer.

Chinese herbal medicine has used the roots for a long time. Records of their use span more than 2,000 years. Past uses include fever, dry cough, throat infections, and abscesses. The source notes that heart effects vary with the dose. Larger doses can reduce how well the heart works. Use as medicine thus carries risks. The records list no food uses, despite this history as medicine. Plants For A Future lists no other uses or weed concern. The supplied evidence gives no pest or disease facts for this species.