Rose snapdragon is a perennial sub-shrub native to California chaparral areas below 4000 feet. It grows 2-3 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide with small lance-shaped leaves and clusters of rose to pale pink fragrant flowers from April to June. Rose snapdragon is an excellent choice for gardens, prairies, and meadows to attract hummingbirds and other pollinators with its colorful blooms and scent. It requires full sun to part shade and tolerates most well-drained soil types with semi-dry to semi-moist conditions.

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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