UEA Ecology Blog

Purple toadflax is a flowering perennial plant that mainly
grows in the banks around hedgerows, old brickwork, and waste grounds, purple
toadflax is part of the veronicaceae family, the leaves of purple toadflax are
around 4cm long, with shapes ranging from linear to linear-lanceolate it
flowers between late spring and early autumn with bright purple flowers in a
raceme, the individual flowers can range in size up to around 8mm, and although
it is not native to Norfolk or the UK in general, It has become naturalised
since its arrival in the 17^th century as an ornamental plant, and
after becoming wild it established self-sustaining communities around the UK,
similar to the already native pale toadflax (Linaria repens), Throughout the past
purple toadflax has been used for many purposes, including as a mild laxative, diuretic
 and a fly poison if boiled in milk. In
the modern day it is mainly used as an ornamental plant buts still finds
occasional use as a home remedy for burns, and as a dye.

When not flowering Purple Toadflax looks nothing like its flowering stage,
instead of the vibrant racemes of purple flowers, it instead bears the withered
remains of last seasons buds and stems, and is significantly less voluminous. Over
the course of the winter the remaining stems will die down below ground level,
ready for the new growth in the spring, Purple toadflax is also very popular as
a cut plant in flower arrangements as it is quite tall and can add structure
and height to an arrangement.