Lineria vulgaris

It is a perennial plant with short spreading roots, erect to decumbent stems with fine, threadlike, glaucous blue-green leaves. The flowers are similar to those of the snapdragon, pale yellow except for the lower tip which is orange, borne in dense terminal racemes from mid summer to mid autumn. The flowers are mostly visited by bumblebees since they are strong enough to open the flower's lip to access the nectar.Yellow toadflax is an escaped ornamental brought to this country in the mid-1800’s. It was used as a yellow dye for centuries in Germany, so immigrants, especially the Mennonites, cultivated it for use in dyeing. Yellow toadflax, which is adapted to moister soils, is more common throughout eastern North America while Dalmatian toadflax is more common in the western United States, although both can be found throughout the continent. The easiest way to distinguish between yellow and Dalmation toadflax is by the leaves. The lance-shaped, gray-green, 2” long leaves of yellow toadflax are stalkless and pointed at both ends. Dalmatian toadflax has clasping, heart-shaped or egg-shaped leaves.