Seasonal Wild Flowers

Purple Toadflax

Linaria purpurea

Plantaginaceae

Late May to September

It is found throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Purple Toadflax

It is a neophyte which has been grown in UK gardens since

the 1640s and recognised as naturalised in the wild since

the 1830s.

It grows on walls and most types of waste ground.

It seeds prolifically and, although attractive, can be

regarded as a weed.

It is increasing.

Purple toadflax is a perennial herb growing up to 1m.

The flowers are in dense spikes and range from deep

purple to pale pink.

Flowers are small (8mm) and the downward pointing

spurs are slightly curved.

The linear, pointed, greyish leaves are in whorls when

growning in isolation, but straggly when scrambling

through other vegetation.

Previous page: Purple Iris
Next page: Pyrenean Lily

Flower spikes of Purple Toadflax

Front and side views of flowers

Deep purple form

Pale pink form

White form

Mauve form with bee

Leaves