Common Meadow foam

Limnanthes douglasii

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Care

Sun

full sun, part shade

Water

low

Soil

Slow; Must have poorly drained clay soil.

Size

2–2ft tall, 1–1ft wide

Bloom

Mar-Aug

Container

Friendly

Flowers

Prized

Edible

Seeds eaten raw or roasted; traditionally used by Indigenous peoples

Native Range

Central Valley and coastal foothills from Kern County to Shasta County, below 2000 ft elevation in vernal pools and grasslands, extending to Oregon.

Care Guide

Planting

Plant Common Meadowfoam in full sun in spring or autumn, spacing plants about 2 feet apart. This plant thrives in poorly drained clay soil - yes, the heavy Bay Area clay that kills most plants is exactly what it wants - so don't amend your soil or add drainage. Pair it with other moisture-loving sun plants like Creek Dogwood or Stream Orchid for a cohesive wet meadow look.

After Planting

Keep the soil moist through summer irrigation during establishment; once established, this plant needs only low water. After flowering (which runs March through August), cut the plant back. The #1 mistake is trying to improve your clay soil or add mulch for drainage - resist the urge, since meadowfoam actually requires that slow drainage to thrive. If you want more plants next year, let seed pods dry on the plant, collect them in fall, and sow seeds in spring or autumn, protecting fall sowings from frost; the plant will also happily self-seed, so be mindful of where those seeds land or you'll find meadowfoam growing in your lawn.

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Endangered & Threatened Species Supported

California ringlet butterflyCoenonympha california

California state threatened species

CA: Threatened

Wildlife Supported