Limnanthes

( lim - NANTH - eez )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus is commonly called Meadowfoam or Poached Eggs, and is filled with species of annual flowering plants that need full sun and regular water to perform and bloom well. These flowers are native to the wet meadows and marshes in the western United States. Blooms are commonly white or bicolored yellow and white, and leaves are yellow-green to green. Use these plants in mixed beds and borders, bioswales, rain gardens, depressed areas of the landscape, or as members of meadow, prairie, native, pollinator, or informal gardens. They can also be used as a groundcover, bulb cover or living mulch, and are great companions for vegetable gardens.

Limnanthes species and varietals

The genus Limnanthes is the type genus member of the plant family Limnanthaceae and includes 8 distinct species. Plants in this genus are closely related to those in Tropaeolum (Nasturtium), Brassicas, and Papaya. They are best in USDA hardiness zones 2-11 or Sunset growing zones 1-9 and 14-24, though this varies somewhat depending on the species grown. See the descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Limnanthes alba (White Meadowfoam)
This species is native to California and Oregon, where it grows in wet grassy habitats. These flowers grow well in poorly draining soils and produces erect or floppy flowering stems topped with singular white blooms. Individual plants in this species reach up to 6-16 inches tall and 1-2 feet wide at maturity. Best in USDA hardiness zones 5-9.

Limnanthes bakeri (Baker's Meadowfoam)
This species is endemic to Mendocino County, California, and is a rarely seen plant. They prefer growing in wet, grassy habitats like marshes and meadows. These annuals reach up to 16 inches tall and produce oval-shaped leaves and bell-shaped white to pale yellow flowers that bloom in springtime. These plants grow well in USDA zones 8a-9b.

Limnanthes douglasii (Douglas' Meadowform, Poached Egg Plant, Common Meadowfoam)
This species produces white flowers with yellow centers, hence the common name 'Poached Egg Plant'. Plants typically reach about 16 inches tall when in bloom and were first collected and described by Scottish explorer and botanist David Douglas in the 1820's. Subspecies Limnanthes douglasii sulphurea (Point Reyes Meadowfoam) has pure yellow flowers and Limnanthes douglasii nivea produces white blossoms. This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 5-10.

Limnanthes vinculans (Sebastapol Meadowfoam)
This endangered species is found only in Sonoma County, California, and forms a small annual herbaceous plant that reaches up to 6-12 inches tall and wide. Flowers are white and bloom from April through May. Sebastapol Meadowfoam grows well in USDA hardiness zones 9 and 10.

Caring for Limnanthes

Limnanthes, or Poached Egg Plant seeds can be sown in place in fall or early spring. They prefer a space in the garden that receives full sun. These plants cannot handle shade. Ensure that the planting area can handle Limnanthes before planting them; they have a tendency to reseed freely, forming meadows of flowers over time. They prefer a space in the garden that is moist. Depressed areas, bioswales, or rain gardens are perfect for these flowers. They prefer soil to be well-draining, moderately fertile, and to have a pH of between 6.0 and 6.5 (slightly acidic). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the area with plenty of organic compost before planting. Lay down a thick layer of mulch after installing plants; this will help to suppress weed growth, maintain soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Limnanthes are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. These plants will self-sow where conditions are favorable, over time forming large swaths of groundcover. This tendency may cause issues in small-space gardens or formal gardens, though plants can easily be pulled out of the ground and installed elsewhere. Prune in early to late spring, cutting back about a third of the plants' height to encourage more dense foliage to form. To prevent the spread of these plants, pinch off flowers before they form seeds. Plants in this species are annuals, meaning that they sprout, seed, and die within a year's time. They are typically pulled and composted at the end of the growing season, or simply left in place to enrich the soil.

Propagation

Limnanthes is best propagated either from seed. To propagate your Poached Egg Plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Limnanthes by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 14-21 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Limnanthes seed heads form where flowers once bloomed.

Limnanthes seeds.

Problems and Pests

Limnanthes, or Meadowfoam, are typically resistant to issues with pests and diseases in the landscape, though they can have problems with the following from time to time: