Antirrhinum majus
Common snapdragon
(c) Denis Bastianelli, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Denis Bastianelli · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Antirrhinum majus (Common snapdragon) is a non-native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by very large flower size unique in California.
Common snapdragon is a naturalized perennial herb found in central Coast and southern Coast Ranges in open, disturbed areas at elevations below 250 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces flowers in varied colors, with blooms reaching 25 to 45 millimeters long. Growing with erect, self-supporting stems 8 to 70 centimeters tall, it develops terminal raceme inflorescences that are notably hairy. Its leaves are glabrous, particularly toward the base of the plant, with the entire stem structure supporting dense flower clusters. The plant is widely cultivated and can readily establish in disturbed landscape areas.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; key feature is very large flower size unique in California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, disturbed areas
Elevation: < 250 m
California counties: Ventura, Santa Clara, Orange, Fresno, Los Angeles, Riverside, Siskiyou, Contra Costa, Alameda, Napa, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Yolo
Outside California: native to Mediterranean
Bloom period
Antirrhinum majus blooms Mar-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 majus native to California?
No. Antirrhinum majus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Antirrhinum majus bloom?
Antirrhinum majus blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Antirrhinum majus grow?
Antirrhinum majus occurs in Ventura, Santa Clara, Orange, Fresno, Los Angeles, Riverside, Siskiyou, Contra Costa and other counties, at elevations of < 250 m.
What plant family does Antirrhinum majus belong to?
Antirrhinum majus is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Antirrhinum.
What habitat does Antirrhinum majus grow in?
Antirrhinum majus grows in Open, disturbed areas.
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.