Snapdragon
Antirrhinum majus
Family: Plantaginaceae · Also called Dragon Flower, Dog's Mouth, Lion's Mouth, Antirrhinum vulgare, Antirrhinum majus var. typicum, Orontium majus
Green & Fresh · Spring–Summer bloomer
The snapdragon is a flower with a personality, its two-lipped blooms, stacked in colorful spires, famously open and close like tiny mouths when pressed on the sides. This 'dragon's mouth' mechanism isn't just whimsy, it's a sophisticated pollination strategy that only large bees strong enough to pry open the jaws can access the nectar within.
grace, strength, deception, graciousness
In the Victorian language of flowers, snapdragon means “Gracious and presumptuous”. The name comes from the flower's resemblance to a dragon's mouth that 'snaps' open when squeezed from the sides, generations of children have played with them this way. In medieval Europe, snapdragons were believed to protect against witchcraft and were planted near doorways. The dried seed pods look like tiny skulls.
Did You Know?
After the petals fall, snapdragon seed pods look remarkably like tiny human skulls, a macabre surprise that has fueled folklore about death and the supernatural for centuries. The flower is also a key model organism in plant genetics research.
Rocky cliffs, old walls, and limestone outcrops around the Mediterranean
Snapdragon is native to Mediterranean. It naturally grows in rocky cliffs, old walls, and limestone outcrops around the mediterranean.
Scent Profile
“A soft, green-sweet fragrance with honeyed undertones, gentle and herbal, strongest on warm afternoons.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameAntirrhinum majus
- FamilyPlantaginaceae
- Native ToMediterranean
- Bloom SeasonSpring–Summer
- LifespanAnnual
Cultural Significance
The name comes from the flower's resemblance to a dragon's mouth that 'snaps' open when squeezed from the sides, generations of children have played with them this way. In medieval Europe, snapdragons were believed to protect against witchcraft and were planted near doorways. The dried seed pods look like tiny skulls.