Limnanthes douglasii

RHS Plant Profile
poached egg flower

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poached egg flower visionspictures.com

Other common names

meadow foam, poached egg plant

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A popular, spreading annual to 15cm in height, with finely divided bright, yellow-green leaves and bearing masses of open bowl-shaped yellow flowers with white-tipped petals, in summer and autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5
Drought Resistance
Yes

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Limnanthaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Spreading branched
Genus
Limnanthes are low-growing annuals with pinnately divided leaves and cup-shaped, 5-petalled flowers in summer and autumn
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
USA

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any moist but well-drained soil in full sun. May be grown as green manure; see our video How to grow and sow green manure for advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in situ in spring or autumn, protect autumn sowings from frost

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Wildlife gardens
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Coastal
  • Hanging Basket
  • Rock garden
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Garden edging
  • Bedding

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free