One favorite flower is a tiny flower known by many names, linaria, fairy bouquet, toadflax and probably others with which I am unfamiliar. It is truly a fairy flower of many jewel like colors.
Plants are made up of many stems and branches all of which are covered with hundreds of blossoms of every color but green and this is provided by the fine, dark green leaves.
My experience has shown that linaria is best when not thinned as then the plant gets an ungainly look. Although the flowers grow a little larger when the plants are thinned, the difference is not enough to make up for the ungainliness. As blossoms are nearly through blooming, stems should be cut to prevent a scraggly appearance.
Culture of this plant is easy. Seed should be sown in late spring when soil is warm and danger of frost is over. The soil should not be too rich, but light. Probably the best way to sow seed is to choose a sunny spot, wet the topsoil, sprinkle seed on it and firm it with a board. Although linaria should be kept well watered, the soil should not be soaked.
Linaria is very effective in mass displays. Flowers, shaped like tiny snapdragons, combine well with others and keep for a long time when cut. The more you cut, the more you seem to have. I have other favorites, but if I were told I could have just one flower, this would be it.
