Common toadflax
Linaria vulgaris · Plantaginaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant common toadflax: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Flowering
- June to September
- Adult size
- 24 to 40 inches tall
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (down to 5°F)
- Origin
- Temperate Europe and Mediterranean region
- Soil type
- Well-draining, undemanding
Care
Sunlight
Common toadflax prefers a sunny location for abundant flowering. It tolerates partial shade, however with fewer flowers. Plant it in an open spot, away from the shadow of large trees for vigorous growth.
Watering
Water moderately after planting to encourage root establishment. Once established, toadflax is very drought-tolerant and requires little water. Avoid stagnant moisture which could promote fungal diseases.
Soil and Planting
Toadflax adapts to most soils, even poor or rocky ones. Choose well-draining substrate and preferably slightly alkaline soil. Undemanding in organic matter, it thrives even in poor conditions.
Pruning and Deadheading
Cut wilted stems as the plant flowers to encourage new blooms. In late autumn, cut the plant back to 4-6 inches from the ground to maintain a compact shape. This pruning also promotes better branching the following spring.
Fertilizer
Toadflax is undemanding and generally requires no fertilizing. A light application of compost in spring is plenty. Avoid nitrogen-rich fertilizers that would promote foliage at the expense of flowers.
Diseases and Pests
Common toadflax is very robust and rarely affected by diseases. Watch for powdery mildew in high humidity and occasional aphids in spring. Good air circulation and absence of excess moisture prevent most problems.
Did you know?
Common toadflax has very distinctive flowers: bright yellow with a curved spur or nectary. Long ago, it was used in traditional herbal medicine for its supposed purgative and diuretic properties. Its name also evokes 'flax' because of its fine narrow leaves, which resemble the foliage of cultivated flax.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Ivy-leaved toadflaxCymbalaria muralis
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- Heart-leaf Globe DaisyGlobularia cordifolia
- Talus slope penstemonPenstemon digitalis
- Coral plantRusselia equisetiformis
- Bunchleaf penstemonPenstemon heterophyllus
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.