Northern Lights Linaria | Linaria maroccana
Darling sprays of pastel flowers. Space close for an aura of colours.
Though small, this flower has gone by a long list of names over the years. The Latin name, Linaria, was thought up by Linnaeus, who noticed the plant's similarities to linum, or flax. Many varieties in this family were then dubbed "flax." A more antique version of our mix was introduced in 1872 as Fairy Flax. Toadflax caught on due to the flowers structure, hinged and turned like a toad's mouth. The glowing colours of this modern mix inspired a whole new level of naming, taking it from the earthy landscape of toads up into the heavens and the colours of the Northern Lights. Though few earthly phenomena can compete in beauty with the Aurora borealis, this blend of vivid colours certainly gives it a shot.
Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost by sprinkling a few seeds on the surface of pots and disturbing the soil a bit, then watering in. Thin if necessary, and transplant outdoors when plants are 2" high. Alternately, direct sow by lightly scattering seeds in a well prepared bed, then thin the indicated spacing. Denser plantings result in a showier display of blooms. Linaria requires medium fertility and moderate water.
Days to Germination 5-10 days
Days to Maturity 65 days
Planting Depth 0 inches
Spacing in Row 4"
Spacing Between Rows 8"
Height at Maturity 12"
Width at Maturity 6"
Sun Preference Full Sun
Artwork by Kristen Egan. Kristen is a mixed-media artist specializing in collage and sculpture. Inspired by nature and mythology, her work ranges from paint and cut paper to digital media, from bronze to wood and stone.
About Hudson Valley Seed Company
They are a values-driven seed company that practices and celebrates responsible seed production and stewardship. Hudson Valley are best known for their beautiful artist-design seed packs (Art Packs) that appeal to gardeners, gift buyers, and lovers of art and nature.
These Art Packs, most fundamentally, tell stories. Hudson Valley challenges artists to convey in a manner that is fully their own, the history and meaning of the seed variety contained in each pack. These stories were once integral to traditional societies-stories of seeds were often origin stories for entire communities and peoples, and the lore and beliefs that accumulated around seed varieties reflected the nearly familial way in which gardeners and farmers regarded their crops. Our society is, by and large, no longer connected to plants this way. But we like to think these Art Packs help to stitch our fragmented world back together: useful seeds, evocative art, both equally valuable to our experience of being human.