Antirrhinum ovatum
Oval-leaved snapdragon, oval-leaved snapdragon, oval-leaved snapdragon
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Antirrhinum ovatum (Oval-leaved snapdragon) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by key diagnostic feature is unique throat floor with longitudinal folds.
Oval-leaved snapdragon is a California native annual found in southern San Joaquin Valley (especially western Kern and eastern San Luis Obispo counties), southern Coast Ranges, and western Transverse Ranges in heavy adobe-clay soils on gentle, open slopes at elevations of 200 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces cream-colored flowers with pink tints, 17 to 20 millimeters long, featuring a unique throat with two longitudinal folds. Growing with erect but weak stems 8 to 60 centimeters tall that often cling to other plants or debris, it has a glandular-hairy texture. Its leaves are lanceolate to obovate, 4 to 49 millimeters long, with petioles up to 15 millimeters, arranged along the delicate stems. The fruit is an oblique-ovoid capsule 7 to 10 millimeters long, containing small black, ridged seeds about 1 millimeter in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; key diagnostic feature is unique throat floor with longitudinal folds
Habitat and range
Habitat: Heavy, adobe-clay soils on gentle, open slopes, also disturbed areas
Elevation: 200-1400 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Monterey, Kern, San Benito, Santa Barbara
Bloom period
Antirrhinum ovatum blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 ovatum native to California?
Yes. Antirrhinum ovatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Antirrhinum ovatum bloom?
Antirrhinum ovatum blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Antirrhinum ovatum grow?
Antirrhinum ovatum occurs in San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Monterey, Kern, San Benito, Santa Barbara, at elevations of 200-1400 m.
What plant family does Antirrhinum ovatum belong to?
Antirrhinum ovatum is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Antirrhinum.
Is Antirrhinum ovatum rare or endangered?
Antirrhinum ovatum carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.