How to Identify Snapdragons

A favorite of gardeners, the snapdragon is an annual flower that comes in nearly every color except blue. The snapdragon gets its name from the bright blossoms that resemble the head of a dragon. Children especially love to pinch the snapdragon's flowers to watch them snap open and shut. This plant requires plenty of sunlight, and it comes in three different sizes: dwarf (6 to 15 inches), medium (15 to 30 inches) and tall (30 to 48 inches). If you need to identify a snapdragon, the easiest way to do this is by looking at the flowers.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Take a look at your surroundings. Snapdragons grow best in full sunlight and cannot thrive in the shade. If you are standing in a shady area, then most likely you won't find any snapdragons.

2. Estimate how tall the plant is. While snapdragons come in a range of sizes, you won't find many standing under 6 inches or over 48 inches.

3. Look closely at the flowers. The snapdragon's blossoms grow on thin stalks with a cluster of flowers at the end of the stalk. The flowers tend to form a cone shape and give off a faint fragrance.

4. Squeeze a snapdragon gently just behind the fullest part of the blossom to see if its "jaw" opens and shuts. Most snapdragons will have this ability, although a few varieties have open-faced flowers that do not "snap."

5. Ask a gardening expert for help. Since the snapdragon grows in a variety of sizes, it can be hard to identify this plant if it's not in bloom.

Tips & Warnings

• If you would like to add snapdragons to your garden, plant them in a place where they receive plenty of sunlight. They do best in rich, well-drained soil.

References

• Snapdragon Garden Basics
• Snapdragon
• Snapdragons: An Easy to Grow Annual Flower