Furbish's Lousewort Plant Care
Pedicularis furbishiae S.Watson
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Pedicularis furbishiae, or Furbish's lousewort, is a perennial herb found only on the shores of the upper Saint John River in Maine and New Brunswick. Furbish's lousewort was first recognized as a new species by Maine naturalist and botanical artist Kate Furbish in 1880.
Every 5–7 days
Partial shade to full sun
50–75°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Furbish's Lousewort?
Water Furbish's Lousewort every 5–7 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it partial shade to full sun. It prefers temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Furbish's Lousewort?
Furbish's Lousewort (Pedicularis furbishiae) belongs to the Orobanchaceae family within the Pedicularis genus.
Furbish's Lousewort displays a clumping herbaceous perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Furbish's Lousewort produces tubular flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white.
Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Furbish's Lousewort?
Pedicularis furbishiae requires watering every 5–7 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 5–7 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Furbish's Lousewort Need?
Furbish's Lousewort thrives in partial shade to full sun.
Light Requirement
Partial shade to full sun
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Furbish's Lousewort Prefer?
Pedicularis furbishiae grows best at temperatures of 50–75°F. Furbish's Lousewort prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
50–75°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Furbish's Lousewort?
Well-draining, slightly acidic soil with good organic content. Good drainage is essential for Furbish's Lousewort to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Furbish's Lousewort?
Feed Furbish's Lousewort every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Furbish's Lousewort?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Furbish's Lousewort?
Furbish's Lousewort can be propagated through seeds, division. Similar propagation techniques also apply to marsh lousewort plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Furbish's Lousewort Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Furbish's Lousewort, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Furbish's Lousewort?
Furbish's Lousewort is susceptible to aphids, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Furbish's Lousewort Need?
Furbish's Lousewort grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Furbish's Lousewort as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Furbish's Lousewort is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Pedicularis genus — compare its care with other Pedicularis species on PlantoScan.
Pedicularis is part of the Orobanchaceae plant family — browse all Orobanchaceae genera and species.
Furbish's Lousewort thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Pedicularis Species
Other Pedicularis species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Pedicularis furbishiae S.Watson, family Orobanchaceae (first published in Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 17: 375 (1882)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Furbish's Lousewort, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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