Linaria vulgaris (Butter and Eggs)
| Also known as: | Yellow Toadflax |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Linaria |
| Family: | Plantaginaceae (Plantain) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | Europe |
| Status: |
|
| Habitat: | part shade, sun; fields, along roads |
| Bloom season: | June - October |
| Plant height: | 1 to 2 feet |
| County distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| Spotted in Ramsey County at: |
Pick an image for a larger view. Most image enlargements are 50-100KB, though some may be larger. See the glossary for icon descriptions.
Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flower]](/udata/r9ndp23q/yellow/butter-and-eggs-100_9901.jpg)
Spike-like raceme 3 to 6 inches long of irregular yellow and orange flowers, each ¾ to 1 inch long. The upper lip of each flower is divided into 2 lobes, the lower lip into 3, with a long narrow spur hanging down at the base that holds nectar. The lips and spur are yellow; an orange palate projects from the center.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/yellow/butter-and-eggs-100_9900.jpg)
Leaves are up to 2½ inches long and 1/8 to 1/6 inch wide with pointed tips and no leaf stalk. Attachment is alternate, but they can be tightly packed along the stem so may appear opposite or whorled. Leaves are toothless; leaves and stems are hairless.
Notes:
Butter and Eggs is an invasive species which has spread to more than half the counties in Minnesota. It tends to grow in clumps and spreads vegetatively as well as by seed. Its main blooming season is early to mid summer, but it's not unusual to find some patches blooming in late spring or early fall. The flowers are very similar to Dalmatian Toadflax (L. dalmatica) but that species has broad leaves. Like several other species, Linaria has been moved from the Scrophulariaceae (Figwort) family to Plantaginaceae (Plantain).
Where to buy native seed and plants
Help support this site by buying seeds & plants from these vendors. Tell them we sent you!
More photos
a small patch of Butter and Eggs
an infestation of Butter and EggsPhotos by K. Chayka taken at Long Lake Regional Park, Ramsey County. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in St. Paul.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2009-09-08 14:09:11
pretty weed. growing in a small area by a low shrub. still blooming.
on: 2009-09-19 05:45:42
It looks quite lovely to me. Why try to kill it off?
on: 2009-09-19 08:10:54
Yes, it is pretty, but it's also a non-native invasive species. It can be an aggressive breeder that crowds out native plants, and as another poster already mentioned, can be hard to kill off. Invasive species destroy food source and habitat for native insects, birds and wildlife. Encouraging their growth and spread is counter-productive.
on: 2010-06-19 17:06:23
Found in many parts of Oakdale Nature Preserve, mostly in recently disturbed areas. June 2010.
on: 2011-09-08 01:00:31
Its in my yard. What was once a small patch, is spreading. I now also see it in a portion of my yard that is quite removed from the original patch. I've been trying to kill, remove or control it for a number of years, to no avail. I've resisted using 'Roundup' so far. Any ideas?
Navigation
- Home
- What's Blooming
- Flowers by Color
- Flowers by Name
- Grasses, Sedges, Rushes
- Invasive Species
- Volunteer
- Glossary
- Links
- About Us
- Contact
- Blog
Follow Minnesota Wildflowers
on: 2009-07-27 15:06:40
I have been asking about this plant all year, until I came upon a website showing Yellow Toadflax, and have been investigating it ever since. We always had a rather nice lawn, until last year when it showed up. We regularly spray our lawn two or three times a year for weeds, and this has been our biggest headache!! It appears, with every passing year they spread. After reading the information on several websites, I understand why.