Douglas' meadowfoam is a native California wildflower that grows 6-12 inches tall with spreading 8-10 inch width. It blooms from March to May with showy dark yellow and white flowers that are sweetly scented. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, growing well in meadows, vernal pools, woodlands and attracts native bees and other pollinators. The plant self-seeds readily and can be used as ground cover, edging or in mixed beds and containers.

1. * Douglas’ Meadowfoam – Limnanthes douglasii
(lim-NAN-thees doug-LASS-ee-eye)
Family: Limnanthaceae (Meadowfoam Family)
Native to: Western U.S. including N. CA. Grows in wet places including wet meadows, edges of
vernal pools, ephemeral
streams, valley grassland and foothill woodlands.
Annual wildflower
height: 6-12 in.
mature width:
Low, mounded spreading annual that reproduces freely from seed. Leaves lobed.
Growth characteristics:
8-10 in.
Blooms/fruits: Mar-May. Dark yellow center with white, pink or crème outer-petal. Flowers are
showy and sweetly-scented.
Uses in the garden: sweet-scented, showy flowers, so place where they can be enjoyed. Looks
nice in rock gardens, or as an edging or border plant. Also good as ground cover. Plant in vegetable
garden to attract beneficial insects.
Great as ground cover or in the front of mixed beds or
naturalized areas. Also does well in containers. Charming, old-fashioned look.
Sensible substitute for: non-native annual wildflowers.
Attracts: many types of native bees and other insect pollinators.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Prefers full sun
Any well-drained; can tolerate alkali pH
Prefers cool, moist soils
Low requirement; no added fertilizer needed
Gravel or no mulch
Management: self-seeds freely. Cut off seed heads if you don’t want it to naturalize.
Propagation: from seed:
fall to spring.
fairly easy. Let pods ripen on plant. Sow seeds in prepared bed from
May be slow to germinate.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 5
* California native plant but not native to Western L.A. county
2/16/11
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