Large-flower Linanthus, or Leptosiphon grandiflorus, is an annual wildflower native to coastal California below 3500 feet. It has needle-like leaves arranged in whorls around hairy stems that can reach 1-2 feet tall. The fragrant white to pale pink flowers bloom from April to July in dense clusters at the stem tips. It is well-suited for naturalizing, cut flowers, and attracting pollinators to vegetable gardens and among fruit trees. Propagation from seed is easy with no pre-treatment required.

1. *Large-flower Linanthus – Leptosiphon (Linanthus) grandiflorus
(lep-toe-SY-fon gran-dih-FLOR-us )
Family: Polemoniaceae (Phlox Family)
Native to: North & Central CA coast to Santa Barbara Co.; uncommon in open woods & sandy soils
below 3500 ft.
Full extent of original range is unclear.
annual wildflower
mature height: 1-2 ft.
mature width: 1-2 ft.
Herbaceous annual that is short and mounded along immediate coast and taller in the garden
setting. Stems hairy, often many-branched above. Leaves almost needle-like with narrow sections;
in whorls around the stem. Plants often grow in dense colonies in wild.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms in spring – usually Apr-July.
Flowers are adorable – shaped like open
funnels with 5 fused petals. Color white to pale lilac-pink; many petals are white near center and
colored at edges. Flowers look like a garden phlox – clustered at tops of stems. Sweetly fragrant.
Plants will bloom through summer if given some supplemental water.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Most often used as in nature – in swathes or clusters. Wonderful in pots, even
in hanging baskets.
Used in flowering beds throughout California.
Lovely in rock gardens or
cascading over a low wall. Plant in vegetable garden or near fruit trees to attract pollinators. Makes
a nice cut flower. Plant near a seating area or along paths to enjoy fragrance. Naturalizes well.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native phlox.
Attracts: Excellent habitat plant: provides nectar and seeds for pollinators, birds.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun to part-shade.
Likes a well-drained soil – excellent for sandy – but adaptable; any local pH.
Adequate moisture during growth; none or occasional during bloom season.
None needed in ground; fine if grown in containers.
Bare ground or gravel mulch is best.
Supplement water if needed in dry years. Collect seed as capsules begin to open –
or let the plants re-seed naturally. Plant is well-adapted to gardens.
Management:
Propagation: from seed:
easy; no pre-treatment required.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers):
5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 19, 45
1/29/12
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