Yellow Toadflax

General Information

Species Name: Lineria vulgaris

Also Known As: butter-and-eggs, wild snapdragon, flaxweed, ramsted, Jacob's ladder, common toadflax

Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort)

Growth Form: Forb

Life Span: Perennial

Flowering Dates: June-September

Origin: Europe

Noxious: No

Why Is It Invasive?

Yellow toadflax forms dense colonies and outcompetes native plants and desirable forage. It is not often eaten by livestock and is resistant to many herbicides. It may also cause soil erosion. 

What Does It Look Like?

General Characteristics

Yellow toadflax can grow up to 3 feet tall and has showy yellow and white flowers that resemble those of a snapdragon. 

Flowers

Flowers are yellow to pale cream and crowd together at the top part of the plant stem. They have hairy, orange throats and closely resemble the flowers of snapdragons. 

Leaves

Leaves are alternately arranged and numerous. They are narrow, hairless, and have pointed tips. 

Stems

Stems are erect and simple or sparingly branched. They may have sparse hairs. 

Seeds

Flat, brown or black, and have a papery wing

Photos

Yellow toadflax with tall green stems on a gravel-covered roadside.
Dense green vegetation with tall grass and yellow toadflax stems in an outdoor setting.
Flowering yellow toadflax with green stems and leaves in a grassy field.
Flowering yellow toadflax on tall green stems outdoors.
Three brown speckled seeds on a blue textured surface.
Green plant stem with small round buds against a dark background.
Field of yellow toadflax with scattered pink blooms under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Thin, elongated leaves of yellow toadflax fanning out in a radial pattern against a blurred background.

Where Does It Grow?

Yellow toadflax invades open areas like pastures, meadows, and roadsides, especially disturbed sites. It is widely distributed across the United States. 

How Does It Spread?

Yellow toadflax was initially introduced to the United States from Europe as an ornamental plant that escaped cultivation. It can reproduce by seed or by spreading rhizomes that send up new stems. The seeds can be spread through both natural and human vectors. Seeds can remain viable in soil for up to 8 years. 

How Do I Control It?

Mechanical

Begin cultivating infested field in early summer and repeat every 3 weeks. Thorough cultivation for one year will eliminate most of the plants. 

Please contact your county weed control authority to determine appropriate removal methods.

Cultural

Do not intentionally plant yellow toadflax for ornamental purposes and instead use a native alternative. 

Help prevent seed dispersal after outdoor activity in a few simple steps: 

  • REMOVE plants, animals and mud from boots, gear, pets and vehicles.

  • CLEAN your gear before entering and leaving the recreation site.

  • STAY on designated roads and trails.

  • PLANT non-invasive species.

PlayCleanGo: Stop Invasive Species in Your Tracks

Herbicide

Please refer to the 2026 Guide for Weed, Disease and Insect Management in Nebraska and/or contact your county weed control authority. 

References and More Information

Alaska Natural Heritage Program

Colorado Department of Agriculture

Invasive Species of Idaho

USDA Fire Effects Information System

National Invasive Species Information Center

Nebraska Weed Control Association

PlayCleanGo

North Carolina Extension Gardener

Stubbendieck, J., Coffin, M., & Dunn, C. (2019). Weeds of the Great Plains. Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board