These are low, stemless plants with the leaves and flowers growing from the root crown. The basal leaves, narrow and pinnately lobed, are usually less than an inch wide. It is found on sunny slopes among rocks in the foothills, and on sandy plains throughout western North America from May to July. Toadflax is a perennial, 2-3 feet tall, blooming from May to August. The yellow flowers resemble snapdragons and may be reddish at the tip inbud.
Flowers are strongly bilabiate in terminal racemes.
Leaves are 1-3 inches long and clasping the stem. It is an introduced species from eastern Mediterranean region which is well established in in gravelly areas, roadsides and disturbed areas in the foothills. Some consider it a pesky weed. Another very similar species, but not as common, is Linaria vulgaris. The flower is similar but the numerus leaves are linear and not clasping the stem.