FNPS Plant Database

Linaria canadensis

Canadian toadflax
  • Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
  • Photo by: FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Canadian toadflax

Synonym(s):

Anarrhinum canadense, Nuttallanthus canadensis

Genus species:

Linaria canadensis

Family:

Plantaginaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

1.0 to 1.25 ft tall by .5 to .75 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

lavender

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

Germinates in late winter, blooms in spring.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

In a wildflower garden or meadow, because it's noticeable only when flowering.

Considerations:

Availability:

Specialty Provider, Seed

Propagation:

Self seeds with seeds which easily become airborne. Can be propagated by dividing the root ball. Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

5.6 to 6.0

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Caterpillars



  • Larval host to the Buckeye butterfly,  Junonia coernia .


  • Nectar source for bumblebees and other long tongue bees, butterflies and skippers.


Native Habitats:

Disturbed areas

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Citations:

Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A gardener's guide to Florida's native Plants.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants (http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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