Maurandella antirrhiniflora
snapdragon vine
Southwestern United States and Mexico
Overview
Maurandella antirrhiniflora is a slender, twining herbaceous vine in the plantain family that climbs 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) by means of coiling leaf stalks rather than tendrils. The thin leaves are triangular to arrowhead-shaped, 0.5-1.5 inches (1.3-4 cm) long, on stalks that wrap around nearby stems and twigs for support. From spring through fall it bears solitary tubular, two-lipped flowers about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long that resemble small snapdragons, in violet, purple-blue, pink, or white with a paler throat. Native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, it grows in deserts, rocky canyons, and brushland, scrambling over shrubs, rocks, and fences. M. antirrhiniflora is a tender perennial in frost-free areas and is grown as an annual where winters are cold, since it is killed by hard frost. It needs full sun to light shade and well-drained soil, and it tolerates heat and drought once established. Its light, lax stems give thin cover and need support or a host plant to climb, and it can self-sow in warm climates.
Native Range
Native to the southwestern United States, from California and Texas through the desert Southwest, and south into Mexico. It grows in deserts, rocky canyons, washes, and brushland, climbing over shrubs and rocks.Suggested Uses
Grown on trellises, fences, and small arbors, in containers with support, and as a light scrambler through open shrubs, spaced 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart. Its slender habit suits hanging baskets, where the flowering stems trail. The tubular flowers draw bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in warm-climate and desert gardens.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 6'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Bloom Information
Flowering extends from spring through fall in mild climates, and over the warm months elsewhere, with bloom heaviest after rains. The small two-lipped flowers open one or a few at a time along the stems. In frost-free areas scattered flowers can appear nearly year-round.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
violet, purple-blue, pink, or whiteFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-12 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
Grow M. antirrhiniflora in full sun to light shade in light, well-drained soil. It tolerates heat, drought, and poor, rocky ground once established and needs only occasional water in dry spells. It climbs by twining leaf stalks, so a trellis, netting, or shrub host is needed for it to gain height. It is frost-tender and is treated as a warm-season annual where winters bring hard freezes, though it often returns from seed. Light feeding supports bloom but is not essential in average soil. Overwatering and heavy, wet soils cause root problems.Pruning
Pinching the stem tips encourages branching and a fuller plant. Stems can be trimmed at any time to control size and shape, and frost-killed growth is cleared in spring where the plant is grown as a perennial.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons