Antirrhinum kelloggii
Climbing snapdragon
(c) George Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Antirrhinum kelloggii (Climbing snapdragon) is a native California vine in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by twining pedicels with hooks and blue-purple flowers.
Climbing snapdragon is a California native annual found in southern North Coast Ranges, central western, and southwestern California in disturbed areas, especially burn sites, at elevations below 1,300 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces lavender to deep blue-purple flowers with darker veins, approximately 10 to 14 millimeters long. Growing with ascending to vine-like stems 7 to 80 centimeters tall that cling to other plants or debris, it has a distinctive ability to twine and hook onto surrounding vegetation. Its leaves range from linear to ovate, 10 to 58 millimeters long, with minimal petioles or sessile at the upper stems. The fruit is a small ovoid to spheric capsule 5 to 7 millimeters long that splits open at the tip, releasing tiny black seeds with scattered block-like tubercles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; key features are twining pedicels with hooks and blue-purple flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, especially burns
Elevation: < 1300 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, Napa, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Orange, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Contra Costa, Marin, Kern, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Benito, Mariposa
Outside California: northwestern Baja California
Bloom period
Antirrhinum kelloggii blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Linaria: Antirrhinum has a bulging sac at flower base; Linaria has a long backward-pointing spur.; vs Sairocarpus: Antirrhinum has hairy plants with twining flower stalks; Sairocarpus is glabrous with straight stalks.; vs Penstemon: Antirrhinum has closed snapdragon mouth with 4 stamens; Penstemon has open throat with 5 stamens (one sterile).; vs Salvia: Antirrhinum has 4 stamens hidden inside; Salvia has 2 stamens arching out of hooded upper lip.; vs Rosa: Antirrhinum has tubular two-lipped flowers; Rosa has flat open flowers with 5 separate petals and thorny stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Antirrhinum kelloggii native to California?
Yes. Antirrhinum kelloggii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Antirrhinum kelloggii bloom?
Antirrhinum kelloggii blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Antirrhinum kelloggii grow?
Antirrhinum kelloggii occurs in San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Diego, Riverside, Napa, Santa Barbara and other counties, at elevations of < 1300 m.
What plant family does Antirrhinum kelloggii belong to?
Antirrhinum kelloggii is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Antirrhinum.
What habitat does Antirrhinum kelloggii grow in?
Antirrhinum kelloggii grows in Disturbed areas, especially burns.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.