Antirrhinum virga
Twig-like snapdragon, Twig-Like Snapdragon, twig-like snapdragon, twig-like snapdragon
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Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Antirrhinum virga (Twig-like snapdragon) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by tall wand-like habit, woody caudex, and terminal raceme.
Twig-like snapdragon is a California native perennial ranked 4.3 by CNPS, found in southern North Coast Ranges and southern North Coast Inner Ranges in chaparral openings and rocky areas, often on serpentine, at elevations of 200 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces pink flowers in racemes 13 to 18 millimeters long with lips that wither and turn brown. Growing with erect, wand-like stems 40 to 220 centimeters tall, it develops from a woody caudex and maintains a distinctive self-supporting structure. Its leaves are spirally arranged, linear and acute, ranging 5 to 12 centimeters long, with basal leaves reduced to persistent scales and upper leaves transforming to bracts in the flowering region. The fruit is an oblique-ovoid capsule 6 to 9 millimeters long with chambers that dehisce by two pores.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; key features are tall wand-like habit, woody caudex, and terminal raceme
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings in chaparral, rocky areas, often on serpentine
Elevation: 200-2000 m
California counties: Colusa, Lake, Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Glenn
Bloom period
Antirrhinum virga blooms Jun-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 virga native to California?
Yes. Antirrhinum virga is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Antirrhinum virga bloom?
Antirrhinum virga blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Antirrhinum virga grow?
Antirrhinum virga occurs in Colusa, Lake, Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Glenn, at elevations of 200-2000 m.
What plant family does Antirrhinum virga belong to?
Antirrhinum virga is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Antirrhinum.
Is Antirrhinum virga rare or endangered?
Antirrhinum virga carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3?.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Antirrhinum confertiflorum — Ghost flower
- Antirrhinum cornutum — Spurred snapdragon
- Antirrhinum coulterianum — Coulter snapdragon
- Antirrhinum filipes — Tangled snapdragon
- Antirrhinum kelloggii — Climbing snapdragon
- Antirrhinum kingii — King's snapdragon
- Bacopa eisenii — Gila river water hyssop
- Bacopa monnieri — Herb of grace
- Bacopa repens — Creeping water hyssop
- Bacopa rotundifolia — Disk waterhyssop
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.