Snap Dragon

(Antirrhinum majus)

Interesting Information About Plant:  

Dwarf snapdragons can be two inches tall. This plant commonly grows along the shoulder of long highways giving the impression that it is immune to herbicides. This plant has favors railroad track areas for its habitat. Dwarf species are hard to mow with a lawnmower but are easy to pull since they have shallow root systems. This plant was once considered a weed. These can spread at a rate of ten miles per season.

Scientific Name: Antirrhinum majus

Family Name (Scientific and Common): Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Continent of Origin: Europe (Western Mediterranean region)

Plant Growth Habit: Upright Herbaceous

Height at Maturity: Less than 1 foot (these can be between 1 and three feet but the species on campus were dwarf)

Life Span: These are perennials but usually grown as Annual (herbaceous) due to poor gardening

Seasonal Habit: Herbaceous That Stays Green Through Winter 

Growth Habitat: Partial Sun  

Manner of Culture: Garden (flower)  

Thorns on Younger Stem: No

Cross Section of Younger Stem: Roundish   

Stem (or Trunk) Diameter: Less Than The Diameter of a Pencil  

Produces Brownish Bark: No

Bark Peeling in Many Areas: No

Characteristics of Mature (Brownish) Bark: Lines Go Up-Down   

Type of Leaf: Flat, Thin Leaf  

Length of Leaf (or Leaflet): Less than Length of a Credit Card 

Leaf Complexity: Simple

Edge of Leaf: Smooth 

Leaf Arrangement: Alternate on upper region  /  Opposite on lower region

Leaf has Petiole: No

Patterns of Main-Veins on Leaf (or Leaflet): Parallel 

Leaf Hairiness: Somewhat Hairy  

Color of Foliage in Summer: Green 

Change in Color of Foliage in October: No Change    

Flowering Season: Winter/Spring / Summer (not much)/ Autumn

Flowers: Tightly Clustered  

Type of Flower: Colorful Flower

Color of Flower: White / Yellow / Red / Purple /Multicolored 

Shape of Individual Flower: Other

Size of Individual Flower: Between a Quarter and the Length of a Credit Card  

Sexuality: Male and Female on Same Plant

Size of Fruit: Smaller than a Quarter 

Fruit Fleshiness: Dry

Shape of Fruit: Spherical    

Color of Fruit at Maturity: Brown or Dry

Fruit Desirable to Birds or Squirrels: No   

Common Name(s): Snap dragons

Louisville Plants That Are Most Easily Confused With This One: delphinium, foxglove, lupine

Unique Morphological Features of Plant: Various colors in many shades, the way the flower looks like a dragon opening its mouth when squeezed

Poisonous: All of Plant   

Pestiness (weedy, hard to control): No

Page prepared by:  

Rod Nilest                                    

November 2004