1. Rose Snapdragon – Sairocarpus multiflorus (Antirrhinum multiflorum)
(SAIR-oh-car-pus mul-tih-FLOR-us)
Family: Veroniaceae (Snapdragon Family); formerly in Scophulariaceae
Native to: Foothills in much of CA – locally in Santa Monica & San Gabriel mountains; on dry slopes
below 4000', rocky or disturbed areas and burns primarily in chaparral.
perennial sub-shrub mature height: 2-3 ft.
mature width: 2-4 ft.
Stout herbaceous sub-shrub from a woody base. Short-lived (3-5 years).
Small, lance-shaped
leaves grow along tall stalks. Will die back, at least partly, in late summer/autumn.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms in late spring in our area (Apr-June). Flowers vary in color from rose-red
to pale pink with yellow. Flowers ½” inching diameter, sweet-scented, in clusters. Lovely, like a
wild snapdragon.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Excellent choice for a cottage garden or hummingbird garden. Can be used as
an accent plant until shrubs fill in. Nice addition for native prairie/meadow or rock garden. Plant
where you can enjoy the scent, the color and the visits of pollinators.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native snapdragons and similar-flowering plants.
Attracts: Excellent hummingbird habitat. Also prized by a variety of birds that eat the seeds.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun to part-shade.
Very tolerant of soils, from sandy to clay; any but very alkali pH (> 8.5).
Semi-dry to semi-moist (Zone 1-2 to 2 or 2-3); let dry out some in late summer.
None.
Management:
Prune back in late fall to keep it looking neat. Collect seeds to re-establish.
Propagation: from seed: germination may be poor
by cuttings: probably
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 10, 13
1/28/11
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