Bastard Toadflax
Comandra umbellata
Also listed as Thesium umbellatum
Also known as California Comandra, Pale Comandra, Common Comandra
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing native perennial with delicate white to pink flowers arranged in small clusters. It is a hemiparasitic plant that derives some nutrients from nearby plant roots.
Why grow it
Bastard toadflax offers a delicate groundcover option for native plant communities and naturalized areas where its low stature won't compete with taller perennials. Its hemiparasitic nature means it can establish in nutrient-poor soils alongside compatible host plants, making it useful for restoration projects or marginal sites. The plant provides early-season nectar for pollinators and integrates well into meadow plantings across its native range in temperate North America.
Watch out for
This species may require specific host plant companions to thrive reliably, so it performs best when established among compatible native vegetation rather than in isolation. Establishment from seed can be slow and unpredictable, and it may take several seasons to achieve dense cover. In cultivation outside its native range, verify local climate compatibility since it prefers cool to moderate temperate conditions.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Comandraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
North American native
Native to: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing native perennial with delicate white to pink flowers arranged in small clusters. It is a hemiparasitic plant that derives some nutrients from nearby plant roots.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Bastard Toadflax grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Bastard toadflax offers a delicate groundcover option for native plant communities and naturalized areas where its low stature won't compete with taller perennials. Its hemiparasitic nature means it can establish in nutrient-poor soils alongside compatible host plants, making it useful for restoration projects or marginal sites. The plant provides early-season nectar for pollinators and integrates well into meadow plantings across its native range in temperate North America.
Watch out for
This species may require specific host plant companions to thrive reliably, so it performs best when established among compatible native vegetation rather than in isolation. Establishment from seed can be slow and unpredictable, and it may take several seasons to achieve dense cover. In cultivation outside its native range, verify local climate compatibility since it prefers cool to moderate temperate conditions.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Comandraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
North American native
Native to: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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