Annuals Dictionary: Limnanthes
False mermaid family
Limnanthaceae
Lim-nan’theez. A genus of 7 species of w. North American herbs, one of which is cultivated in the flower garden.
Description
Leaves alternate, dissected. Flowers solitary, sepals and petals 3-5 each, usually notched at tip.
How to Grow
In Calif . and the Deep South, sow seeds just before the fall rains; seedlings will bloom early the following summer. Where winters are severe, sow in very early spring in moist but well-drained soil. This species prefers cool weather.
Limnanthes Douglasii
Meadow Foam ; Marsh Flower . 4-12 in. (10-30 cm) high, usually branching from the base. Flowers long-stalked, fragrant, nearly 1 in. (2.5 cm) wide, white, or yellowish toward the base. Oreg. and Calif. Hardy annual.