Linaria pinifolia
Pine needle toad flax
(c) Karim Haddad, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Linaria pinifolia (Pine needle toad flax) is a non-native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by limited to SCoRO region with distinctive decumbent shoots.
Pine needle toad flax is a naturalized annual found in the southern Coast Ranges in disturbed areas at elevations below 305 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces red-violet flowers with a swelling yellow throat and purple veins, approximately 15 to 18 millimeters long. Growing with tall stems 80 to 100 centimeters high and decumbent non-flowering shoots, it has a distinctive branching habit. Its leaves are linear to elliptic, measuring 20 to 40 millimeters long, with smaller leaves on non-flowering stems. The fruit is approximately 4 millimeters long, containing small pyramid-shaped seeds with distinct ridges.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 4 species; limited to SCoRO region with distinctive decumbent shoots
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 305 m
Outside California: native to Mediterranean
Bloom period
Linaria pinifolia blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Antirrhinum: Linaria has a true backward-pointing spur; Antirrhinum has only a sac-like swelling at flower base.; vs Nemesia: Linaria has a long backward-pointing spur; Nemesia has a short spur or pouch.; vs Collinsia: Linaria has spurred flowers with throat swelling; Collinsia has keeled lower lip with stamens tucked inside.; vs Salvia: Linaria has five stamens and spurred flowers; Salvia has two stamens and square stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Linaria pinifolia native to California?
No. Linaria pinifolia is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Linaria pinifolia bloom?
Linaria pinifolia blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Linaria pinifolia belong to?
Linaria pinifolia is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Linaria.
What habitat does Linaria pinifolia grow in?
Linaria pinifolia grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.