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Linaria vulgaris (Common toadflax)
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1 hour care
per year
per year
0.9m
Max height
Max height
0.3m
Max spread
Max spread
1-2 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Linaria vulgaris
Other names
Common toadflax, Bread and butter, Brideweed, Bridewort, Butter and eggs, Butter haycocks, Continental weed, Dragon bushes, Eggs and bacon, Eggs and butter, False flax, Flaxweed, Gallweed, Gallwort, Imprudent lawyer, Impudent lawyer, Jacob's ladder, Lion's mouth, North American ramsted, Rancid, Ransted, Wild flax, Wild snapdragon, Yellow rod, Yellow toadflax
Genus
Linaria Linaria
Species
L. vulgaris - L. vulgaris is an erect, herbaceous perennial with stiff stems bearing narrowly elliptic to linear, pale green leaves and, from late spring to mid-autumn, dense racemes of spurred, pale yellow flowers with orange-marked lower lips.
Linaria vulgaris is: Deciduous
Habit
Erect
Flower
Pale-yellow in Spring; Pale-yellow in Summer; Pale-yellow in Autumn
Foliage
Pale-green in Spring; Pale-green in Summer; Pale-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Aphids Aphids
Powdery mildew Powdery mildew
General care
Pruning
Cut back after flowering.
Propagation
Self-seeds freely.
Propagation methods
Seed, Division, Softwood cuttings
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Where to grow
Linaria vulgaris (Common toadflax) will reach a height of 0.9m and a spread of 0.3m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance, Wildlife
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained, sandy soil in sun. Does not tolerate shade. Spreads by runners. Self-seeds freely. Considered an invasive weed in many non-native areas.
Soil type
Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Linaria vulgaris
Other names
Common toadflax, Bread and butter, Brideweed, Bridewort, Butter and eggs, Butter haycocks, Continental weed, Dragon bushes, Eggs and bacon, Eggs and butter, False flax, Flaxweed, Gallweed, Gallwort, Imprudent lawyer, Impudent lawyer, Jacob's ladder, Lion's mouth, North American ramsted, Rancid, Ransted, Wild flax, Wild snapdragon, Yellow rod, Yellow toadflax
Genus
Linaria Linaria
Species
L. vulgaris - L. vulgaris is an erect, herbaceous perennial with stiff stems bearing narrowly elliptic to linear, pale green leaves and, from late spring to mid-autumn, dense racemes of spurred, pale yellow flowers with orange-marked lower lips.
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Erect
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Colour
Flower
Pale-yellow in Spring; Pale-yellow in Summer; Pale-yellow in Autumn
Foliage
Pale-green in Spring; Pale-green in Summer; Pale-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
Cut back after flowering.
Propagation
Self-seeds freely.
Propagation methods
Seed, Division, Softwood cuttings
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Linaria vulgaris (Common toadflax) will reach a height of 0.9m and a spread of 0.3m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Bees (attract & feed bees), Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance, Wildlife
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained, sandy soil in sun. Does not tolerate shade. Spreads by runners. Self-seeds freely. Considered an invasive weed in many non-native areas.
Soil type
Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South
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: | Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
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