Can I grow this in a garden?

It is very difficult to cultivate because it requires specific host plants to survive.

Does it need full sun?

It prefers partial shade to full sun in damp, open habitats.

Plant guide

Lousewort.

Pedicularis sylvatica

Pronounced peh-dik-yoo-LAIR-iss sil-VAT-ih-kuh

Also known as Common Lousewort, Lousewort

Common Lousewort — Photo by Todd Boland (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This charming little wildflower is a hemiparasitic plant that often grows in damp heaths and grasslands. It forms a low rosette of ferny leaves and produces spikes of pink or white flowers in the spring. Because it relies on other plants for nutrients, it is quite difficult to keep in a garden setting.

At a glance

Care level: Difficult
Plant type: perennial herb
Light: partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 15 cm
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 8
Bloom time: Mid to late spring

Care

This plant is best left in its wild habitat because it needs specific host plants to survive. If you do try to grow it, make sure the soil stays consistently moist and mimics a natural heath environment. Watch for signs of wilting which indicate the host plant is not providing enough support.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently damp but not waterlogged.
Feeding: Do not fertilize as this plant derives nutrients from host roots.
Pruning: Remove dead flower stalks after the seeds have dispersed.
Repotting: Repotting is rarely successful due to the sensitive root system and dependence on host plants.
Soil: acidic, damp, nutrient poor soil
Soil pH: acidic
Temperature: -20 to 25°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered toxic if consumed and should be handled with care.
Children: Keep children away from this plant as it is not for consumption and may cause digestive upset.
Contact allergens: No specific skin irritation is commonly reported, but handling with gloves is wise.
Airborne allergens: There are no notable reports of respiratory allergies associated with this species.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and may contain compounds that cause illness if ingested.

How to identify it

low growing basal rosette
feathery fern like leaves
spikes of pink tubular flowers
two lipped flower structure

Height: 0.05 to 0.15m
Spread: 0.1 to 0.2m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: pink, white, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: brown, Summer

Problems to watch for

Root rot · Occurs when soil remains waterlogged for extended periods.

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn

Always plant this alongside native grasses to ensure it has the necessary host roots to thrive.

Grows well with

Common Bent · This grass serves as a suitable host for the hemiparasitic roots of the lousewort.
Heath Rush · They often grow together in damp, acidic heathland environments.

Similar species

Marsh Lousewort · It is a related species that prefers even wetter, boggy conditions.

Science

Family: Orobanchaceae
Genus: Pedicularis
Order: Lamiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Western and Central Europe
Conservation: It is declining in some parts of its range due to habitat loss and changes in traditional grazing practices.

It survives by attaching its roots to those of neighboring grasses and sedges to draw water and nutrients.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: wildflower meadows, restoration projects

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 3/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 4/9
Moisture: 7/9
Nutrients: 2/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I grow this in a garden?: It is very difficult to cultivate because it requires specific host plants to survive.
Does it need full sun?: It prefers partial shade to full sun in damp, open habitats.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Pedicularis is derived from the Latin pediculus meaning louse, reflecting an old folk belief. The species name sylvatica means of the woods.

Good to know

It is commonly known as lousewort because farmers once believed it caused lice in sheep that grazed on it.
The name Pedicularis comes from the Latin word for louse.
It thrives in acidic, nutrient poor soils where other plants struggle.

Also in

Plants for shade

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.