




Linaria vulgaris
Common toadflax is a bright yellow flower that looks like a little dragon! It grows in fields and along roadsides, bringing color to nature. Its pretty blooms attract butterflies and bees.
Habitat: Grasslands
The common toadflax is an upright perennial with slender stems and narrow, grey-green leaves. Its striking yellow flowers, resembling miniature snapdragons, feature a prominent orange spot on the lower lip, making them visually distinct.





Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
19
Its flowers are often called "butter-and-eggs" or "dragon's mouth"!
Its scientific name, Linaria, means "flax-like" due to its slender leaves.
People once used its cheerful yellow flowers to make a bright yellow dye.
Though sometimes a weed, it adds vibrant color to roadsides!
Common toadflax can thrive in poor, disturbed soils thanks to a tough, spreading root system.
Common toadflax has a tightly closed flower mouth, requiring strong insects like bumblebees to push it open.
Bombus terrestris
collects nectar and pollen from flowers
Coleophora linariella
larvae feed on its leaves and seeds
Mecinus janthinus
larvae feed on its roots and stems
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
No aliases listed yet.
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't pick flowers unless an adult says it's okay.
The easiest way to identify common toadflax is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
30-90 cm
15-30 cm
2-3 cm
Summer to fall
No
Mild
Perennial
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Rhode Island, US
You might spot Common Eastern Bumble Bee and Osprey.
View guide →
Massachusetts, US
You might spot Maidenhair Spleenwort and Red Trillium.
View guide →

Massachusetts, US
You might spot Common Eastern Bumble Bee and Asian Lady Beetle.
View guide →

Connecticut, US
You might spot Brant, American Herring Gull, and Double-Crested Cormorant.
View guide →

Pennsylvania, US
You might spot Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Eastern Bluebird, and Monarch.
View guide →

Montana, US
You might spot Sticky Geranium, White-Tailed Deer, and Common Toadflax.
View guide →