Butter-and-eggs

Linaria vulgaris

Found in fields, pastures, roadsides, disturbed areas. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

-30

Harmful

Not native to West Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 71%

Height: usually 12 to 36 inches tall
Light: Full sun
Soil moisture: Dry to average

Linaria vulgaris — flower photograph — (c) Romi Galeota Lencina, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph

Do not plant. Listed invasive in West Virginia.

At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Leaves: Deciduous

Not yet recorded · Spread · Bloom

Recorded in 14 West Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

5CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Nuttallanthus

Chloridea virescensTobacco Budworm Moth
Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
Junonia coeniaCommon Buckeye
Phyprosopus callitrichoidesCurved-Line Owlet
Sympistis perscriptaScribbled Sallow

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Plantaginaceae
Soil pH: Alkaline
Flower color: Yellow or orange

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Flower color · “Yellow or orange” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “usually 12 to 36 inches (30-90 cm) tall” · Fire Effects Information System: Linaria vulgaris (ranked first; Minnesota Wildflowers differs) · Source botanical description; original units and scope retained
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Butter and Eggs; Yellow Toadflax

Conservation status

West Virginia rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
WV status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Native alternatives

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