# Ivy-leaved toadflax (*Cymbalaria muralis*) Ivy-leaved toadflax is a pretty plant with small purple flowers that look like tiny butterflies! It often grows in cracks of walls and rocks, making it a special friend of old buildings. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 18 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Ivy-leaved toadflax](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ivy-leaved_Toadflax_%28Cymbalaria_muralis%29_%284732404596%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Franco Folini from San Francisco, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ivy-leaved_Toadflax_%28Cymbalaria_muralis%29_%284732404596%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Ivy-leaved toadflax has trailing stems adorned with small, kidney-shaped leaves resembling miniature ivy. Its delicate, snapdragon-like flowers are a charming blend of purplish-blue or lilac with a bright yellow throat. This plant often forms cascading mats, especially in rocky crevices. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Plantaginaceae - **Genus:** Cymbalaria ## Interesting facts - Its leaves change shape a little depending on how much sun they get! - Its tiny snapdragon-like flowers are a mix of vibrant purple and yellow! - Some people call it 'Mother of Thousands' because it spreads so easily! - This little plant is a master at growing right out of stone walls! ## Special abilities - **Seed Planter:** Ivy-leaved toadflax can strategically bend its flower stalks after blooming, pushing seeds into dark, protective rock crevices to germinate safely. - **Crevice Anchor:** Ivy-leaved toadflax thrives in rocky crevices, using specialized roots to anchor firmly into tiny gaps and absorb essential moisture. - **Rapid Colonizer:** It reproduces easily by seeds and stems rooting where they touch the ground, allowing it to quickly colonize new areas. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-15 cm - **Spread:** 30-100 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring_to_fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar from its small flowers. - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — helps transfer pollen between blooms. - **Eaten by:** Spanish slug (*Arion lusitanicus*) — occasionally grazes on its tender leaves. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Everblooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/everblooming): Everblooming plants produce flowers continuously or in repeated flushes over a long period. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ivy-leaved toadflax? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Ivy-leaved toadflax? 5-15 cm ### How wide does Ivy-leaved toadflax spread? 30-100 cm ### How big are the flowers on Ivy-leaved toadflax? 0.5-1.5 cm ### When does Ivy-leaved toadflax bloom? Spring_to_fall ### Is Ivy-leaved toadflax edible? Yes ### Is Ivy-leaved toadflax toxic? None ### What is Ivy-leaved toadflax's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bean Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bean-hill-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Bellevue Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellevue-avenue-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Ocean Drive Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ocean-drive-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Pioneer Square](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pioneer-square) — Washington, US · Neighborhood - [Shepherdstown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shepherdstown-historic-district) — West Virginia, US · Historic District - [Fota Wildlife Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fota-wildlife-park) — Municipal District of Cobh, IE · Zoo [View all places to see Ivy-leaved toadflax](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ivy-leaved-toadflax) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Ivy-leaved toadflax: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ivy-leaved-toadflax)