Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Antirrhinum coulterianum (syn. Sairocarpus coulterianus) is a species of New World snapdragon known by the common name Coulter's snapdragon. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in desert shrublands and in the coastal hills and mountains, especially in areas that have recently burned. This is an annual herb producing an erect stem which often clings to objects or other plants for support. It is mostly hairless, except for the flower cluster at the top, which can be quite woolly. Leaves are sparse and generally linear and there is often a basal rosette of leaves at the base of the stem; this is the only Antirrhinum that forms such a rosette. The top of the mostly naked stem is occupied by a raceme flower cluster of white snapdragon flowers, which are often tinted with lavender or pink, especially when newly opened. Each flower is about a centimeter wide.

Plant type

Annual herb

Size

5 - 59 in Tall

Calscape icon
Color

White

Flowering season

Spring

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade, Deep Shade

Water

Very Low

Ease of care

Moderate

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment. gives some germination. Addition of a small amount of charate over the sown seeds greatly improves germination ( Keeley and Keeley 1982).

Sunset Zones

7*, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14*, 15, 16, 17, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Site type

Desert, burned places, common in scrub, chaparral

Plant communities

Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub

Hummingbirds
Bats
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

1 confirmed and 9 likely

Confirmed Likely

Quino Checkerspot

Euphydryas editha quino

Geranium Plume Moth

Amblyptilia pica

Tobacco Budworm Moth

Chloridea virescens

Verbena Bud Moth

Endothenia hebesana