© Jing-Yi Lu, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC) · iNaturalist
Maurandella spp.
snapdragon vine
Southwestern United States and Mexico
Overview
Maurandella spp. is a small genus of slender twining vines in the family Plantaginaceae, native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, and most often represented by M. antirrhiniflora, the snapdragon vine. The wiry stems climb 3–6 ft (0.9–1.8 m) by twisting their leaf stalks around thin supports rather than by tendrils. Leaves are small, arrowhead- to hastate-shaped, and spaced along the stem, giving an open, airy cover. Tubular two-lipped flowers about 1 in (2.5 cm) long resemble small snapdragons and open in violet-purple, blue, pink, or white with a paler throat. Flowering continues from spring through autumn in warm climates. The vine is a tender perennial in frost-free zones but is widely grown as a warm-season annual elsewhere, since frost kills the top growth. It grows quickly from seed and threads through shrubs, trellises, and wire. Plants take full sun and well-drained soil and tolerate heat and short dry spells once established. Wet, heavy soil and deep shade reduce flowering and can rot the roots. The threadlike stems can tangle if left unsupported.
Native Range
Maurandella antirrhiniflora is native to the southwestern United States, from Texas and Arizona into California, and south through much of Mexico. It grows in deserts, scrub, and on rocky slopes, scrambling over shrubs and rocks.Suggested Uses
Grown on light trellises, obelisks, and through open shrubs, and trailed from hanging baskets and containers. The airy habit suits cottage plantings, butterfly gardens, and desert and rock gardens. As an annual it gives quick seasonal cover in temperate gardens.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 6'
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from spring through autumn in warm regions, and through the frost-free season where grown as an annual. The snapdragon-like flowers open singly along the stems in violet, blue, pink, or white, drawing bees and other insects. Small rounded seed capsules follow and ripen over summer and fall.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
violet-purple, blue, pink, or white with a pale throatFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Maurandella spp. grows in full sun on light, well-drained soils and tolerates heat, drought, and poor fertility once established. It climbs by twining leaf stalks, so thin supports such as wire, netting, or twiggy shrubs hold it. In frost-free climates it persists as a perennial; elsewhere it is sown each spring and grown as a warm-season annual. Wet or heavy soil and deep shade rot the roots and cut flowering. Plants grow fast from seed and bloom within a few months of sowing. Light feeding sustains bloom through the season.Pruning
Little pruning is needed; tangled or wayward stems are trimmed through summer to keep the vine tidy on its support. Spent growth is cleared at the end of the season, and frost-killed top growth is removed in cold climates. Pinching young shoots encourages branching and denser cover.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons