Limnanthes douglasii

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Limnanthes douglasii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Brassicales Family: Limnanthaceae Genus: Limnanthes Species: L. douglasii
Binomial name
Limnanthes douglasii R. Br.

Limnanthes douglasii, commonly known as poached egg plant and Douglas' meadowfoam. It is a plant that is native to the Northwest USA. The plant was collected by the Scottish explorer/botanist David Douglas (botanist), who worked on the west coast of America in the 1820s.

It has white flowers with a yellow centre, hence the name, and lime green foliage. Flower colors may vary with subspecies. It attracts hoverflies to the garden to beat the aphids and is well loved by bees. Limnanthes douglasii is a low spreading carpet of fragrant golden and white blooms that will grace the front of the border, rockery or path edging growing to a height of approximately 10cm.

It is a hardy annual which will grow in even poor, clay soil. It is self-seeding - gardeners are often careful as to where the seeds fall, as it will quite happily grow in a lawn.

Sow in September to flower in May and June, or in March to flower in June through August.

[edit] Subspecies

• Limnanthes douglasii ssp. douglasii (R. Br.)
• Limnanthes douglasii ssp. nivea (C.T. Mason)
• Limnanthes douglasii ssp. rosea (Hartw. ex Benth.)
• Limnanthes douglasii ssp. sulphurea (C.T. Mason)

[edit] References

ITIS Standard Report Page:Limnanthes douglasii