Linaria canadensis is native to eastern North America from Ontario east to Nova Scotia and south to Texas and Florida. It is an annual or biennial growing to 10-32 inches tall, with slender, erect flowering stems. The flowers are purple to off-white, .4 to .6 inches long, appearing from mid-spring to late summer. It typically grows in bare areas and grasslands. Plant in coastal locations in naturalized areas to support wildlife. Use in full sun and dry sandy soil where there is little competition from other plants. Rocky soil, mesic conditions, and a little shade are also tolerated.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Opposite
Leaf shape
Linear; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are up to 1½" long and 1/8" across. They are linear to oblong-linear, glabrous, smooth along the margins, and sessile. The leaves on the taller flowering stalks are alternate, while the leaves on the lower vegetative stems are usually opposite.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower detail
Blue flowers bloom from March to July.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Seed capsule that splits open to release the flattened smooth seeds. These seeds can be blown about by the wind. Fruit displays from April to September.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Canada to Mexico, Dominican Republic, W. & S. South America.
Wildlife value
This plant supports Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) larvae. Common Buckeye's flights generally occur between May through October with 2-3 broods. However, in the Deep South, the flights can occur throughout the whole year. Caterpillars eat the host plant's leaves while adults feed on the nectar of composite flowers including aster, chicory, gumweed, knapweed, and tickseed sunflower. Nectar source to bees and butterflies.