Limnanthes douglasii

Poached egg plant

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From 4 ratings

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Key info

Plant type

Hardy annual

Flower colour

Yellow

Feature

Flowers

Hardiness

Hardy

Skill level

Beginner

photo by bbc.co.uk/gardening

Plant details

There is just one species of this Californian annual which is very simple to grow in almost any soil in a sunny spot. The bright white and yellow cup-shaped flowers create a cheerful patch of ground cover, with the apt name of poached egg plant. It's an asset in the vegetable garden as a companion plant to attract hoverflies which will feed on aphids and pollinate plants. It will self-seed freely and future generations will continue to appear and naturalise themselves over the area, germinating and flowering at different times. This can be imitated by sowing in autumn for flowers as early as April, and from spring to July for a long sequence of summer flowers. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Family: Limnanthaceae

Genus: Limnanthes

Species: douglasii

Plant type: Hardy annual

Flower colour: Yellow

Feature: Flowers

Sun exposure: Full sun

Soil: Well-drained/light

Hardiness: Hardy

Skill level: Beginner

Height: 15cm

Spread: 15cm

Time to plant seeds: April to July


Reader reviews


heather50

i love this plant it make me fell good


greenhouseman

This really is a lovely plant thats bright and cheerful


Flooz

I HAVE JUST PLANTED SOME OF THE SEEDS TODAY HOPEFULLY HAVE A GOOD A YEAR AS LAST KEEPS THE PESKY CRITTERS AWAY, SUCH A LOVELY LITTLE FLOWER BUT A GREAT HELPER TO ANY GARDENER.


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