This spring’s super bloom in my garden is mostly Limnanthes douglasii, also called meadowfoam, or poached eggs. This is a beautiful, easy to grow native wildflower that pollinators love. Low-growing ...

Understanding the Context

Limnanthes is a genus of spreading hardy annuals plants that reach about 30 cm (12 inches) in height. They carry yellow and white cup shaped flowers in either spring or summer. Their size and spreading nature makes them an ideal plant for use in the rock garden or as an edging plant. Limnanthes ...

Key Insights

Limnanthes, the type genus of the family Limnanthaceae, consists of annual herbaceous plants commonly known as the meadowfoams. Limnanthes douglasii, or Poached Egg Plant, is a fast-growing annual that forms a colorful carpet of yellow and white flowers. Native to the West Coast of the United States, poached egg plants (Limnanthes douglasii), sometimes called meadowfoam, are annual flowers that grow well during summer months in USDA zones 2 through 12. Limnanthes douglasii is a species of flowering plant in the meadowfoam family commonly known as poached egg plant and Douglas' meadowfoam. It is native to California and Oregon, where it grows in wet, grassy habitat, such as vernal pools and spring meadows.

Final Thoughts

Poached egg plant, Limnanthes douglasii, bears bright white and yellow cup-shaped flowers, reminiscent of poached eggs. It's a fantastic choice for using as ground cover, particularly edging paths, and is an asset in the vegetable garden as it attracts a wide range of pollinators and insect predators. These lovely blooming annuals look like they belong on the breakfast plate as much as the garden. Find out everything you need to know to grow Limnanthes douglasii, poached egg plant. Limnanthes Douglasii is an annual that is native to California. Commonly called Poached Egg Plant.

It grows great as a ground cover, or as a container plant. Plant directly outdoors after danger of frost has passed. Plant in full sun, with fertile, well drained soil from sandy loam to clay soil. To identify Limnanthes, look for low-growing, herbaceous plants with finely dissected leaves.