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Linaria spp.

toadflaxes

Plantaginaceae Europe, Mediterranean, Western Asia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–9

Overview

Linaria spp. is a genus of about 150 species of annual and perennial herbs in the family Plantaginaceae, native to temperate Europe, the Mediterranean region, and western Asia, with a few in North America. Plants form upright, often slender stems 8 inches to 3 feet (20 to 90 cm) tall, clothed in narrow, usually blue-green, stalkless leaves. The flowers resemble small snapdragons: a two-lipped tube with a closed, often contrasting throat and a slender spur projecting backward, carried in dense terminal spikes. Across the genus, flower color spans yellow, purple, violet, pink, and white, frequently with a yellow or orange palate on the lower lip, as in the butter-and-eggs pattern of L. vulgaris. Bloom continues over a long season and draws long-tongued bees that can reach the spurred nectar. The genus grows in dry grassland, sandy and stony ground, roadsides, and disturbed soils. A limitation is that some species, including L. vulgaris, spread aggressively by creeping roots and seed and are listed as noxious weeds in parts of North America.

Native Range

Linaria spp. is native to temperate Europe, the Mediterranean basin, and western Asia, with the greatest diversity around the Mediterranean. A few species are native to North America, while others, such as L. vulgaris and L. dalmatica, have naturalized widely and spread on disturbed and rangeland soils.

Suggested Uses

Linaria spp. species are used in cottage gardens, gravel and dry gardens, wildflower plantings, and the front to middle of borders. Annual species such as L. maroccana are grown in mixed seed plantings and containers, while spreading perennials are reserved for naturalistic schemes where their wandering habit is acceptable.

How to Identify

Identify Linaria spp. by its snapdragon-like, two-lipped flowers, each with a backward-pointing spur and a closed throat, borne in narrow spikes above slim stems. The leaves are narrow, often blue-green, and crowded along the stems. The spurred flowers and the bulging, often contrasting palate that seals the throat separate Linaria spp. from spurless snapdragons in Antirrhinum spp..

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 3'

Width/Spread6" - 1'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Linaria spp. flowers over a long season from late spring into autumn, roughly May through September, with annual species blooming quickly from seed. The spikes open from the base upward over several weeks, and deadheading prolongs the display. Some species rebloom after being cut back.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

yellow, purple, violet, pink, and white

Foliage Description

blue-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Across the genus, Linaria spp. grows in full sun and light, well-drained, sandy or stony soil of low to moderate fertility, with a soil pH of about 6.0 to 7.5. Plants tolerate drought and poor soil and grow weak and floppy in rich, moist ground. Annual species are grown from seed sown in place, while perennials grow from seed or division and often self-seed. Spreading species are kept away from open ground where they can naturalize. Cutting plants back after the first flush encourages fresh growth and more bloom.

Pruning

Spent spikes are removed to extend bloom and reduce self-seeding. After the main flush, plants are cut back by about a third to bring on a second round of flowers. Perennial species are cut to the ground in late autumn or early spring.