Scientific: Linaria maroccana
Common: Toadflax, Moroccan Toadflax, baby snapdragon, spurred snapdragon
Family: Scophulariaceae
Origin: Morocco, but naturalized in the western United
States
Invasive Alert: Toadflax has naturalized in the western United States, and has been classified as invasive in southern California.
Pronounciation: Li-NAR-ee-a ma-roc-CA-na
Hardiness zones
Sunset All zones (cool season annual in desert locations)
USDA All zones
Landscape Use: Cool season wildflower, informal flower garden, edging.
Form & Character: Upright stiff and wiry, informal and delicate.
Growth Habit: Annual, upright, 6 to 15 inches in height.
Foliage/Texture: Alternate to whorled, small, linear leaves, almost inconspicuous; fine texture.
Flowers & Fruits: Five petals on a spiked inflorescence, white, violet, pink, purple, red, yellow and various combinations, small like snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus), distinct tubular spur, occurs in terminal clusters, fruit inconspicuous.
Seasonal Color: Winter and spring landscape flowering accent.
Temperature: Prefers a temperature range of 32 to 90oF
Light: Full sun
Soil: Tolerant
Watering: Regular applications of supplemental water is best, though tolerates some winter drought.
Pruning: None
Propagation: Seed, often in western wildflower mixes. Seed typically germinate in about 10 days.
Disease and Pests: None
Additional comments: Toadflax is a free-spirited annual that requires very little post seeding aftercare. Because it performs so well, I believe it deserves to be a staple in many wildflower garden seed mixes.
