Permascaping, by Homegrown Foods
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A purple snapdragon-shaped flower on snapdragon vine

Native & adapted

Snapdragon vine

Maurandella antirrhiniflora

Also known as Maurandya antirrhiniflora · Roving sailor · Little snapdragon vine · Violet twining snapdragon · Mipil

A small, delicate native vine with tiny ivy-like leaves and purple snapdragon flowers from spring to fall. Great on a fence, a mailbox post or climbing through a shrub.

Arizona nativeButterfly hostLong bloomingFast growing
Landscape layersClimbing
Mature size5–10 ft. long with support
Climate fitUrban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b · High desert · USDA 6a–8b
Hardiness guidanceStems freeze in the mid 20s°F; roots take about 10°F and regrow in spring

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Cold hardinessHardy here

Stems freeze in the mid 20s, but the roots take about 10°F and it regrows in spring. In a mild winter it just stays green. Not worth covering.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 25°F
Heat toleranceShade from late-afternoon sun

Takes full sun, but in Phoenix it keeps flowering through summer with shade from late-afternoon sun and water every few days.

Sources: desertmuseum.org, ecorestore.arizona.edu

Right plant, right place

Will Snapdragon vine grow at your Arizona property?

It's native to rocky canyons and washes in Arizona. It's light and lacy, not a shade-maker, so use it where you want flowers, not cover. It stays green in a mild winter and dies back to the roots in a freeze. It reseeds, and it feeds common buckeye caterpillars and desert tortoises.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b, High desert · USDA 6a–8b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full sun to part shade. It flowers more with good light, but in Phoenix shade from late-afternoon sun keeps it going through summer.

Water

Irrigation

Moderate. In summer, water every 4 to 6 days in the ground. It blooms in waves after rain or a good watering.

Planting & stewardship

How to help Snapdragon vine thrive

  1. 1

    Give it string, fine wire or a shrub to twine up. It can't climb a flat wall.

  2. 2

    Plant in sandy, well-drained soil and mulch the roots against heat and cold.

  3. 3

    After a freeze, cut back the dead stems once new growth shows at the base.

  4. 4

    Pull or move volunteer seedlings you don't want.

Read the horticultural reference ↗

Keep exploring

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