Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Limnanthes douglasii (Meadow foam)
1 hour care
per year
per year
0.5m
Max height
Max height
0.5m
Max spread
Max spread
1-2 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Limnanthes douglasii
Other names
Poached egg plant, Meadow foam, Poached egg flower
Genus
Limnanthes Limnanthes
Species
L. douglasii - L. douglasii is a mound-forming, hardy annual with finely-divided, dark green leaves and, in summer and autumn, bowl-shaped, yellow flowers with white-tipped petals.
Limnanthes douglasii is: Deciduous
Fragrance
Flowers are sweetly fragrant and much loved by butterflies and bees.
Habit
Bushy, Spreading
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Flower
Yellow, White in Summer; White, Yellow in Autumn
Foliage
Bright-green in Summer; Bright-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Cut back after flowering.
Propagation methods
Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Limnanthes douglasii (Meadow foam) will reach a height of 0.5m and a spread of 0.5m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), City, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Edging, Garden edging, Wildlife
Cultivation
Sow seeds in-situ in spring or autumn, in moist, free-draining soil in a sunny position. Autumn sowings will require frost protection. It will self-seed, any undesired seedlings are easily removed.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Limnanthes douglasii
Other names
Poached egg plant, Meadow foam, Poached egg flower
Genus
Limnanthes Limnanthes
Species
L. douglasii - L. douglasii is a mound-forming, hardy annual with finely-divided, dark green leaves and, in summer and autumn, bowl-shaped, yellow flowers with white-tipped petals.
Foliage
Deciduous
Fragrance
Flowers are sweetly fragrant and much loved by butterflies and bees.
Habit
Bushy, Spreading
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Yellow, White in Summer; White, Yellow in Autumn
Foliage
Bright-green in Summer; Bright-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest-free.
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Cut back after flowering.
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Limnanthes douglasii (Meadow foam) will reach a height of 0.5m and a spread of 0.5m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), City, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Edging, Garden edging, Wildlife
Cultivation
Sow seeds in-situ in spring or autumn, in moist, free-draining soil in a sunny position. Autumn sowings will require frost protection. It will self-seed, any undesired seedlings are easily removed.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
COMPANION PLANTS
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
Limnanthes douglasii
There are 2 active discussions about Limnanthes douglasii (Meadow foam)
View all discussions