Linaria Vulgaris, 2000 seeds per gram approx.
Linaria vulgaris is a pretty and colourful native wildflower that’s commonly seen growing on open sunny sites like verges, hedge banks and open meadows. In the garden, common toadflax is well suited to growing in a meadow, a naturalistic or cottage style of garden, or on a bank, where the blooms bring colour for months as well as providing an excellent food source for bees and other pollinators. Its leaves are eaten by caterpillars of the toadflax brocade moth. Attractive flowers are borne on slender upright stems, tightly packed or in clusters, above slender green leaves. The individual blooms are similar in shape to snapdragons (though unrelated), with two-lipped flowers 20-35mm long that have deeper yellow or orange-yellow centres and pale-yellow petals – hence its other common name of ‘butter and eggs’. Common toadflax needs plenty of sun and a free-draining soil that isn’t too fertile. This useful plant is hardy and needs little care once established, apart from cutting back dead or faded growth. Cutting faded blooms may encourage further flowering later in the season.
When looking for a spot to plant your Linaria vulgaris, be sure to choose an area that gets at least four hours of full sun each day. Linaria vulgaris also enjoy well-drained soil that’s enriched with plenty of organic matter; this will help keep the plants healthy and hydrated.