When to plant Linaria in Cool Australia
Cool zone — applies to Hobart, Canberra, Ballarat, Orange, Armidale and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.
Sow linaria direct from February to April, and again from September to November, scattering the fine seed where the plants are to flower. This hardy annual (Linaria maroccana) germinates in 14–28 days from a very shallow 3 mm sowing, and light aids the process. Thin seedlings to 10–20 cm apart, in rows 15–20 cm apart, for drifts of small snapdragon-like blooms that reach maturity in about 70 days. In cool gardens around Hobart, Canberra and Ballarat, autumn and early-spring sowings give a quick, colourful display through the cooler months.
Sowing calendar — cool zone
Green months are your sowing window: February to April and September to November.
Growing notes
Linaria, or toadflax, is a quick, cheerful hardy annual that suits the cool zone's mild shoulders far better than the heat of summer. It is undemanding, thriving in ordinary, free-draining soil in full sun, and its fine, snapdragon-like flowers come in a fortnight or so of good colour once established. Sown in drifts, it makes an easy filler for beds and borders around Orange and Armidale.
The usual disappointment is patchy germination and damping-off. The seed is tiny and must be barely covered, as light aids germination, so sowings buried too deep simply fail to appear. In cold, wet soil, meanwhile, seedlings can rot at the base from damping-off before they establish. The fixes are to surface-sow onto a fine, firmed bed, cover only lightly to that 3 mm, and avoid overwatering cool, damp soil so the surface does not stay sodden.
Because linaria dislikes root disturbance, sow direct rather than transplanting. It is fast enough that successive small sowings across the autumn and spring windows keep fresh colour coming as earlier patches fade. Thin ruthlessly to 10–20 cm so plants do not crowd, which keeps air moving and reduces the risk of mildew. Left to seed, it will often self-sow lightly for the following year.
Linaria at a glance
| Sowing depth | 3 mm |
|---|---|
| Plant spacing | 10-20 cm |
| Row spacing | 15-20 cm |
| Germination | 14-28 days |
| Days to maturity | 70 days |
| Frost tolerance | Hardy |
| Method | Sow Direct |
Common questions
- How deep should I sow linaria seed?
- Very shallowly, at about 3 mm, as the fine seed needs light to germinate. Surface-sow onto a firmed, fine bed and barely cover it; seed buried too deep is the most common reason it fails to come up.
- How quickly does linaria flower?
- It is fast, maturing in around 70 days from a direct sowing that germinates in 14–28 days. This speed suits the short mild windows of cool gardens, and successive sowings keep colour coming through autumn and spring.
- Can I grow linaria in Canberra's cool climate?
- Yes. Linaria is hardy and actually prefers cool conditions to summer heat. Sow it direct in the February–April or September–November windows for a quick display through the cooler parts of the year.
- Why are my linaria seedlings collapsing?
- Collapse at the base is usually damping-off, a fungal problem in cold, wet, overwatered soil. Sow onto free-draining ground, water carefully so the surface does not stay sodden, and thin seedlings to keep air moving.
Track linaria in your garden — sow dates, harvest countdowns, reminders. Free.
Add to my garden