Linaria, Perennial Toadflax, Purple Toadflax 'Canon J. Went'

I purchased this plant from Annie's Annuals in California and have it growing beautifully here in Minnesota. I love this plant not only f...Read Moreor the small but gorgeous pink flowers, but also for the blue-green colour of the foliage. The foliage colour goes so well with most other plants and shrubs and really stands out, especially on warm, moist and dewy mornings when the sun hits the leaves just right. It is one of my favourite plants to find on my daily walk-about's through our gardens. It reseeds but not in an overly aggressive manner. It is listed as a zone 5 and higher plant, but I have had it growing for a few years now here in Minnesota where we are probably about a zone 4. Although, with climate change happening at such a rapid pace, we are now closer to being zone 5. Linaria purpurea 'Canon J Went' is a gorgeous perennial and one that should be in every garden. I am looking forward to also getting regular Linaria purpurea too as I really love these little flowers.....

I started this from seed about 7 years ago, and it has wandered around the garden ever since. This acts as a short-lived perennial for me...Read More, but self-sows just the right amount. It is a lovely airy soft pink (not magenta), and not at all invasive. Makes a nice addition to bouquets. Grows in the sunny spaces between rocks. It's a favorite.

'Canon J. Went' has spikes of tiny, baby-pink flowers that open up when you pinch them, just like snapdragons. It blooms the first year ...Read Morefrom seed, if started early indoors.

I grew this from seed, and was very disappointed at how small the flowers were (I was under the impression the flowers were about the siz...Read Moree of a small gladiolus flower). The color is a nice, soft pink -- and the plant has attractive foliage. I haven't had any problem with it spreading uncontrollably.

- Kathleen (Zone 6 - Rhode Island)