Linaria purpurea
Purple toad flax
(c) Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Linaria purpurea (Purple toad flax) is a non-native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by limited to n CCo, perennial with purple flowers lacking stigma lobes.
Purple toad flax is a naturalized perennial herb found in the northern Central Coast region in disturbed areas at elevations generally below 500 meters. Flowering from March to October, this plant produces lavender to purple flowers with a darker throat, approximately 15 to 18 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 30 to 70 centimeters tall emerging from a stout, woody rootstock, it has a robust and upright form. Its leaves are linear to oblanceolate, measuring 20 to 50 millimeters in length, creating a delicate green backdrop to the vibrant flowers. The fruit is small, approximately 3 millimeters long, with seeds about 1 millimeter in size and featuring a distinctive pyramid-like, ridged shape.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 4 species; limited to n CCo, perennial with purple flowers lacking stigma lobes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: generally < 500 m
Outside California: native to Mediterranean
Bloom period
Linaria purpurea blooms Mar-Oct.
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 purpurea native to California?
No. Linaria purpurea is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Linaria purpurea bloom?
Linaria purpurea blooms Mar-Oct.
What plant family does Linaria purpurea belong to?
Linaria purpurea is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Linaria.
What habitat does Linaria purpurea grow in?
Linaria purpurea 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.