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Height: 12-18 in. (30-45 cm) 18-24 in. (45-60 cm) 24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Spacing: 12-15 in. (30-38 cm)
Hardiness: USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F) USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F) USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Danger: Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color: Pale Yellow White/Near White
Bloom Time: Mid Summer Late Summer/Early Fall Mid Fall
Foliage: Herbaceous Smooth-Textured
Other details: May be a noxious weed or invasive Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information: Non-patented
Propagation Methods: From softwood cuttings From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
Seed Collecting: Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
On Nov 3, 2007, distantkin from Saint Cloud, MN (Zone 4b) wrote:
MN DNR's website has this plant listed on the invasive list.
"Ecological Threat:
This plant has the ability to adapt to various site conditions, in Minnesota it grows on gravelly to sandy soil along roadsides, railroad yards, waste places, dry fields, pastures and croplands.
It competes well against less aggressive native plants in gravelly and sandy soils; its capability to spread also vegetatively is largely responsible for its invasive behavior.
It presents a problem in prairie reconstruction projects, once it has established itself.
This plant is a serious problem in Alberta and is on the state noxious weed list in New Mexico and Arizona.
This plant was introduced into North America as an ornamental from the steppes of Europe and Asia in the 1700s, and is still sold commercially. "
It grows everywhere here, so if you want some and it is not considered invasive where you are-let me know and I will go pull it from the cracks along the roads :o)
On Apr 1, 2007, Joan from Belfield, ND (Zone 4a) wrote:
This plant is listed on the North Dakota invasive/troublesome list and this information is being distributed in a guide developed by the ND Weed Control Association and other agencies.
Plant Features
Perennial, up to 2 feet tall
Numerous soft leaves are long, narrow, pale green and are attached directly to the stem
Bright yellow snapdragon-like flowers with a bright orange throat and long yellow spur
Blooms May through September
Spreads by creeping roots (rhizomotous, spreads laterally 10 feet per year), and seeds
Distribution
Widespread invasive that grows under most conditions
Very aggressive, tolerates shade
Very difficult to eradicate
Interesting Facts
Gardeners call it butter-and-eggs
Flowers resemble Dalmatian toadflax
A single plant can produce up to a half-million seeds per year
May be mildly poisonous to livestock (contains glucoside) if ingested
Escaped ornamental, known to be planted in cemeteries
On Feb 18, 2007, JodyC from Palmyra, IL (Zone 5b) wrote:
Toadflax is Very Dangerous to Livestock,if you have live stock and it can get into your pastures,it can kill your stock...I wanted to grow this but now I'm scared to because we have horses and it spreads to easy and is a weed to ranchers and livestock owners..:-(
On Oct 6, 2004, nevrest from Broadview, SK (Zone 3a) wrote:
It is considered a noxious weed here in Saskatchewan, the local R.M. spray it where ever it is spotted. Has been spread quite extensively by the snow-machines.
Beautiful flowers, such a cheery yellow but we find it so hard to get rid of or even control.
Has grey-green, linear or lance shaped, almost hairless leaves. Bears 2 lipped, pale yellow flowers with a dark gold spot on the lower lip, behind the flower is a conspicuous spur.
Flowers June-October
Loves moist but well-drained, soil in full sun but can tolerate a wide range of soils and situations. It can become invasive via it's creeping root system and self-sows quite easily.
The common name Toadflax derives from the time when Flax (Linum usitatissimum) was widely grown as a fibre crop. This Linaria would happily self sow within the Flax and grow virtually unnoticed until it flowered. It has no use at all for fibre making and could devalue the crop.
It was once considered a cure for jaundice under the Doctrine of Signatures but was also used as a diuretic. It's still sometimes used as a diuretic today by trained herbalists.
Other British country names for Toadflax are:
Weasel Snout
Lion's Mouth
Pig's Chops
Dragon Bushes
Fox and Hounds
On Mar 17, 2001, gardener_mick from Wentworth, SD (Zone 4a) wrote:
Well-drained, moist soil. Propogate by seed, self sows
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Huntsville, Alabama Sitka, Alaska Susanville, California Chadwick, Illinois Chicago, Illinois La Grange, Kentucky Cumberland, Maryland Oakland, Maryland Lake, Michigan Saint Helen, Michigan Saint Cloud, Minnesota Young America, Minnesota Dover, New Hampshire Englishtown, New Jersey Carmel, New York Medina, Ohio Millersburg, Pennsylvania Cookeville, Tennessee Murfreesboro, Tennessee Cedar Hill, Texas Salt Lake City, Utah Kalama, Washington Porterfield, Wisconsin Pulaski, Wisconsin