Earlier in spring I found a few unidentified plants growing in a kerbside gutter nearby with attractive foliage so pulled them up and transported them to one of my borders (Yes , I know but I often do crazy things! ). They turned out to be purple toadflax and are now tall healthy plants about to break out into a purple flower. But I've done some research and apart from learning that bees love them, they seem to be listed as annuals, perennials or biennials.
Does anybody grow this? How do I treat them once they finish flowering in October? Chop them back and hope they'll regrow or hope they self seed ? If I prune off the main shoots once they've flowered will other flowering shoots appear from lower down the plants?
Purple toadflax
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I wouldn't expect wild flowers to give a second flower if you cut them down, I'd leave them to set seed myself, look nice and healthy
Been gardening for over 65 years and still learning.
Hi Primrose,
The more up to date name of Purple Toadflax is Linaria Purpurea and it is a perennial. It is not a native plant and it is a plant originally from Italy which is quite popular in herbaceous borders and gives good colour.
The more up to date name of Purple Toadflax is Linaria Purpurea and it is a perennial. It is not a native plant and it is a plant originally from Italy which is quite popular in herbaceous borders and gives good colour.
JB.