'Canon J. Went'
Purple Toadflax
Linaria purpurea 'Canon J. Went' has wee pink & mauve snapdragon-like blooms upon upright, slender, pointy spikes, a foot & a half to two feet tall, which is shorter than the species.
It flowers a great long while, from June until first frost. The blooms are favorites of bees & butterflies.
The usual common name of Linaria purpurea is "Purple Toadflax," which is somewhat a misnomer for the cultivar 'Canon J. Went,' which is a Pink Toadflax.It can be a little weedy, self-seeding with great ease, spreading into any spot that doesn't already have mature plants well along.
In the garden it does not too greatly compete with established perennials, & is not regarded as aggressive, unlike the pretty but uncontrolably weedy L. vulgaris. Yet 'Canon J. Went' will certainly self-seed & pop up in unexpected places in years to follow, even from out of cracks.
Most species of linaria are annuals, but L. purpurea is a perennial, native to Italy, Sicilly, & Mediterranian islands. Perennial toadflax has naturalized in more northerly areas of Europe, including the British Isles, & North America, especially in California, probably due to intentionally strewn wildflower seed mixes.
It is extremely easy to grow in a wide range of situations, but will do best in full sun in well-draining soil. It is quite drought hardy & demands no special attention. If grown from seed, planted summer or before autumn frost, plants will be mature enough to bloom by the following July.
See also:
Linaria maroccana, baby snapdragon
Linaria maroccana, baby snapdragon