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Lesser Snapdragon

Misopates orontium (mis-OH-payts oh-RON-tee-um)

Family: Plantaginaceae Non-native

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.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 48 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Annual; Weed
Life cycle
Annual
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
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
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Rough
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves can be lobed or unlobed, but not separated into leaflets. One leaf per node on the stem.
Flower color
Blue; Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Each flower is less than an inch and consists of 5 petals or sepals fused into a cup shape.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit detail
Fruits are green, maturing to dark brown, and resemble a weasel's snout hence the common name. Dry, splits open when ripe.
Stem detail
Stem is erect and self-supporting. Hairless below, but glandular hairy above.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
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.
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Spring; Summer
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Hanging Baskets; Naturalized Area
Landscape theme
Rock Garden
Design feature
Specimen
Garden tags
#disturbed areas #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #wet soils tolerant #herbaceous annual #wildflower #flowers mid-spring #naturalizes #weedy #wetland
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Weedy
Resistant to
Poor Soil
Propagation
Seed

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.