Cymbalaria pallida

RHS Plant Profile

Italian toadflax

Synonyms

Linaria pallida

Herbaceous Perennial

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A mat-forming perennial with trailing stems and thick, downy, slightly lobed, kidney-shaped leaves. Small, light purple flowers, with long spurs and white centres with small yellow-orange markings, are produced in summer

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–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): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Plantaginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Matforming, Trailing
Genus: Cymbalaria are low, creeping perennials with rounded, mostly lobed leaves and small, two-lipped, spurred flowers in shades of purple, or white
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in poor to moderate, well-drained soil in light or partial shade. Good for rock gardens, cracks in paving, or crevices in walls

Propagation

Propagate by seed, plants will often self-seed in place

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Gravel garden
Rock garden
Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free