Bloomipedia
Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax) (Linaria vulgaris)
Photo: Tom Norton via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax)

Linaria vulgaris

Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax) (Linaria vulgaris) is a flowering plant in the Plantaginaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–October across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax) is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 16 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in July–October.

49states where USDA records it
16Bloomipedia state lists include it
31,389U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wisconsin

🚫
Regulated invasive plant in Colorado, Alaska, Montana and North Dakota. It's on those states' official invasive plant lists (Colorado: List B noxious weed; Alaska: Restricted noxious weed (seed contaminant limit); Montana: Priority 2B noxious weed; North Dakota: State noxious weed (landowners must control it)). Please don't plant or share it there. 8 CCR 1206-2 11 AAC 34.020 ARM 4.5.206–210 NDAC 7-06-01-02

Quick look

Linaria vulgaris, the common toadflax, is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae, native to Europe, and northern, central and eastern Asia. It has also been introduced to North America and is now common there.

  • It belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 49 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In New York, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–October. iNaturalist
  • In Massachusetts, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–October. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 4,605 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #47 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,462 research-grade sightings of it in Massachusetts, ranking #43 among the 188 flowers on our Massachusetts list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,814 research-grade sightings of it in Wisconsin, ranking #42 among the 161 flowers on our Wisconsin list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (3,730 records)
Bloom time in the 16 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
New YorkIntroducedJuly–October4,605
MassachusettsIntroducedJuly–October3,462
WisconsinIntroducedJuly–September2,814
PennsylvaniaIntroducedJune–October2,733
MinnesotaIntroducedJune–October2,348
ColoradoIntroducedJuly–October2,319
MichiganIntroducedJuly–September1,886
MaineIntroducedJuly–October1,196
AlaskaIntroducedJuly–August1,136
New JerseyIntroducedJune–October1,091
ConnecticutIntroducedJune–September975
MontanaIntroducedfew records (33)543
New HampshireIntroducedJuly–September487
Rhode IslandIntroducedfew records (37)424
South DakotaIntroducedfew records (30)171
North DakotaIntroducedfew records (13)63

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 11 of our 16 states.
See each state
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Massachusetts. MESA list
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Wisconsin. NR 27.03
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Minnesota
Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Minnesota. Minn. R. 6134.0300
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Michigan. R 299.1028
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Maine. Maine rare plant list
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Connecticut. CT E/T/SC list
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Rhode Island. RI rare plants 2016
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Colorado.
Alaska
No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Alaska.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Montana.
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in South Dakota.
North Dakota
No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in North Dakota.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records butter-and-eggs (common toadflax) in 49 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Bronx, Cattaraugus, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Jefferson, Kings, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Nassau, New York, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schoharie, Suffolk, Tompkins, Ulster, Washington, Westchester, Yates.

Massachusetts counties with USDA records: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester.

Wisconsin counties with USDA records: Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Introduced; Canada: Introduced; Greenland: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Introduced.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Linaria linaria.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 1086 counties across 45 states; the most are in Ohio (83), Illinois (77), Wisconsin (70).

Other Linaria on Bloomipedia (3): Canada toadflax, Texas toadflax, Balkan toadflax.

More from the Plantaginaceae family (29 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Bird's-eye speedwell, Purple foxglove, White turtlehead, Foxglove beardtongue, Heath speedwell, Culver's root, Cobaea beardtongue, Snapdragon vine.

More New York flowers

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Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

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Sources