How to Grow and Care for Lathraea

The lathraea requires very specific environmental conditions, thriving only in well-shaded areas with constantly moist, rich soil. Special care must be taken to avoid direct sunlight, as it can damage the plant. Additionally, lathraea is a perennial parasite on the roots of other plants, necessitating careful selection of a host plant to ensure its proper growth and development.

Watering schedule: Every week

Sunlight Requirements: Full shade

In This Article

Planting and Growing Lathraea

Care Difficulty	Hard
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every week
Sunlight Requirements	Full shade
Soil pH	6-7
Hardiness Zones	8

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Types of Lathraea

Common toothwort

Common toothwort (Lathraea squamaria) is found in mild, damp woodland and hedges in Europe and Asia. It has no chlorophyll by which to produce its own nutrition, so it parasitizes the roots of woody plants and trees such as hazel, elm, ash, walnut, and beech.

Purple toothwort

Purple toothwort (Lathraea clandestina) is a parasitic plant that is native to western and southern Europe, where it grows primarily in damp woodlands and siphons its necessary nutrients from the roots of poplars and willows. Purple toothwort is only visible above ground in the spring, when it produces vibrant purple flowers.

Common Pests & Diseases

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Common issues for Lathraea based on 10 million real cases

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More General Info About Lathraea

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