Authors: P. Gaertn.
Linaria cymbalaria). Stems to 60cm in length. Leaves hairless or softly hairy, about 1.2cm long, but can be larger, alternate, kidney-shaped to semi-circular with five to nine, rounded, often mucronate lobes. Flowers 9-15mm long, lilac to violet, occasionally white or pinkish, with a yellow palate. Southern Alps, mountains of central Italy and Sicily and naturalised throughout Europe, including Britain, on shady rocks and in woodland. A variable species. Typical hairless specimens belong to subsp. muralis. In subsp. visianii the whole plant is softly hairy. These are both vigorous and need a large area of wall or paving. Several variants have been selected as cultivars. 'Albiflora' has white flowers. 'Nana Alba' has white flowers and is compact and free-flowering, a good rock garden plant. 'Globosa' is similarly compact. A white-variegated form 'Variegata' has been listed but is probably no longer available.
