Lesser Snapdragon Misopates orontium
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Antirrhinum orontium
- Phonetic Spelling
- mis-OH-payts oh-RON-tee-um
- Description
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Lesser Snapdragon is a small, flowering, herbaceous annual in the plantain family and native to the countries surrounding the Mediterranean. It is commonly found in disturbed areas and wetlands. The plant produces pink flowers in the Spring that resemble a miniature snapdragon followed by a hairy green fruit that resembles a weasel's snout. Lower leaves are opposite while upper leaves are alternate. It has been introduced and become a naturalized weed in parts of North America.
Lesser Snapdragon does well in full sun to partial shade in slightly acidic to neutral soil. It will tolerate poor soil.
The plant is considered a wildflower, although it's ability to naturalize cause some locales to consider it weedy. It can be controlled by growing in a container or pot.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests. This plant will readily naturalize.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Misopates
- Species:
- orontium
- Family:
- Plantaginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mediterranean, east to India and south to central Africa
- Distribution:
- Central Europe, Canada, eastern and western United States south to Virginia in the east and California in the west.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are green, maturing to dark brown, and resemble a weasel's snout hence the common name. Dry, splits open when ripe.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Each flower is less than an inch and consists of 5 petals or sepals fused into a cup shape.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves can be lobed or unlobed, but not separated into leaflets. One leaf per node on the stem.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stem is erect and self-supporting. Hairless below, but glandular hairy above.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
